FiberArts: Service Projects
It's that time of year! If you are a crafting family, here are some wonderful opportunities to give back to others!
Having learned to knit and crochet as a child, I have had a decades-long love of the fiberarts!
Naturally, I wanted to pass along this love of knitting to my own children, but it served a threefold purpose: 1) a relaxing, sensory-related craft for personal enjoyment; 2) a way to give back to our community, as we will discuss here; and 3) as a way to help develop the fine-motor skills needed for writing.
Given that boys generally do well with gross motor skills early on, I wanted to help prepare their fine-motor skills, and I will say both of my sons have lovely writing, so it worked!
When we were in the process of adopting our two youngest children from the foster care system, we heard of a wonderful effort called the Red Scarf Project. At the time, I was managing a small upscale knitting boutique, so the store threw its weight behind my oldest son’s desire to participate, and we held a 24-hour “Scarf-a-Thon,” that was later written up in the local paper. We came close to donating 300 scarves!
Later on, all three kids established the Knitting Project through our local 4-H chapter, and served as Teen Leader and Jr. Leader.
As we head into cooler weather, a number of organizations are seeking crafters to donate their skills to worthy projects. Here are just a few (click on the purple title hyperlink), with guidelines. Note that many have very specific guidelines and deadlines.
Also included are ideas (without a hyperlink) for follow-up in your local community.
Warm-Up America: This effort helps to create blankets for a variety of organizations. Crafters can donate squares to be joined into blankets, or full blankets.
Project Linus: This organization, broken down into local chapters, provides blankets to children in crisis or as part of disaster relief efforts.
Operation Gratitude: This effort creates care packages for deployed military personnel, including scarves, socks, and hats.
Binky Patrol: This effort creates blankets for children in need of comfort.
Wildlife Rehabilitation: A number of organizations need nests for birds. My youngest son spearheaded an effort for the local wildlife center where he interned. Check with your local wildlife organization.
Stump Covers/Residual Limb Covers: Many veterans organizations are in need of covers for amputees.
Animal Shelters: Some animal shelters need toys or blankets for shelter animals. We did a toy drive for our local humane society and it was a blast. We had a homeschool day there and got to participate in a class and tour.
Homeless Shelters/Women’s Shelters: Check in your local area to see what needs they may have.
Red Scarf Project: Another pitch for this worthwhile organization that sends care packages to college students who have aged out of the foster care system and often do not have the support others have during their educational journey.
Tell us how your efforts go! Are there others you know of? Comment below!