What Charity Do You Crochet For?
By Rachel Choi – 32 CommentsWhen I first started crocheting, I realized that a large portion of the crochet community crochets for charity. Whether its making baby hats for a local hospital, or mats for the homeless, there seems to be countless ways to contribute.
In this post, I would love to discuss what charity you enjoy crocheting for.
- What charity do you crochet for?
- What items do you like to make for charity?
- How percentage of your crochet projects go to charity?
- Do you crochet for more than one charity?
Share your thoughts and join the discussion in the comments below!
If you don’t already crochet for charity, but would like to get involved, feel free to check out our Charity Page to find a charity to crochet for!
I crochet for one of the Stitches From The Heart groups that kept meeting after the parent organization closed. We meet at one of the senior centers in our area once a month from January through October each year. We make up one of several groups who crochet, knit, and quilt items for the babies and chemo patients at our county hospital. Every so often the folks at the hospital give us a tour of the areas that receive our items. One time we saw a retired CEO (volunteer) cuddling one of the preemie babies who had been in the unit for the first four – five months of her life. We were told she was a couple of ounces away from achieving the weight level needed to go home (she weighed 1 pound, 6 ounces at birth).
Side Comment: Earlier this morning there was a segment on one our local news broadcasts about a group of retired women in Rhode Island who knit gorgeous little coats for chickens. I live on the west coast so we typically do not have a need for these items for our feathered friends. Are there any east coast crocheters out there who have heard about these folks? They’re fantastic!
Many Thanks Rachel,
Pat
I crochet prayer shawls for my church. Also do Project Linus where we make blankets for needy babies and children. Began doing it myself many years ago, then enlisted the aid of others at church and now coordinate the project for several months once a year. Every now and then I do pillow cases for Con-Kerr for children with cancer, but not as often as I am a better crocheter than a sewer. Now 92 years old, been crocheting for about 80 years, and find crocheting for charity is so rewarding, just love it. There are so many ways you can put your love of crafts to help the needy out there.
That is fantastic Evelyn! Sounds like you are keeping busy 🙂
Keep up the awesome work!!
That is fantastic that you get to tour the hospital every now and then. I can see how that helps put everything into perspective.
I haven’t heard about crocheting coats for chickens. Maybe someone else has and can respond to that.
Keep up the crocheting and the great work that you do!
I crochet hats and sometimes scarfs for the homeless in connection with a locally based project called Warmth for All. It has been going on for several years now and each year hundreds of hats and scarfs are collected from many contributors. All of my crocheting is for this project. I usually make hats but have done a few scarfs as well.
I love crocheting hats and scarves too! Keep up the great work!!!
My favorite charity is Bridget’s Cradles: crocheted cradles which allow family to hold and love their precious baby who was stillborn in the second trimester. I also crochet hats, mittens etc. for several charities. Probably 99% of my work goes to charity and the rest for family and friends. Absolutely great reason for an old lady to get up in the morning to “clothe His sheep”.
I haven’t heard of Bridget’s Cradles before. It sounds like an amazing charity! Keep up the crocheting and the amazing work that you do!
Rachel, I hope you will google, “Bridget’s Cradles” and learn about it. I am sure it will touch your heart as it has mine.
1. Cat/dog themed items, dog sweaters, pet beds Animal Lovers, Inc. SW Michigan/NE Indiana
2. Baby, teen, elder items FOPRR, SD
3. Squares Blankets for Animals Isle of Wight
4. Octocuddlers for Preemies, Isle of Wight
5. Pink pussy hats in exchange for Planned Parenthood donation
6. Personal offer FB of button/flower cotton hat for anyone on chemo or depressed.
90% crochet to charity, 10% gifts. Would like to sell, but no luck so far.
Wow, you’ve been busy Bonnie! Keep up the great work!
By the way, I am curious, what are Octocuddlers?
The Parkville Senior Center Crochet and Knitting Group Ladies donate items to children and Adult homeless shelters, churches, hospitals, special needs children, schools, senior Christmas boxes and anyone or place that expresses a need in Baltimore County/City, MD.
That is so awesome!!!! Keep up the great work 🙂
I crochet for an organization called Newborns In Need. Volunteers crochet, knit, sew and provide goods for newborns through various local agencies. I usually crochet afghans. The majority of my projects are for NIN. Every once in a while, someone asks me for a baby gift or one of my nieces needs a new “boppie” (that’s ‘afghan’ to most of us!). I’m working my way through afghans for all my nieces and nephews but honestly, making an adult size just takes too long! I have some left over fabric and one of these days, I would like to make lap quilts for senior centers. I have a long To Do list, so long that it will never be completed! I guess the most important thing is to keep working at it!
Sounds like you are keeping yourself busy in a good way! Keep up the crocheting 🙂
i just started crocheting hats and scarves for out local homeless vets through our local VA Hospital
That’s awesome!!!
I’ve been crocheting items for babies and kids on the list for the Okini Program. Right now, I’m mostly making up a bunch of stock so that when I see someone on the list, I can just grab from my list and send it.
Sounds like you are well prepared! Keep up the crocheting and amazing work that you do 🙂
I crochet for Knit-a-Square. This is an organisation that helps orphans and other vulnerable children in South Africa. We knit or crochet squares to make blankets to warm the children who live in very precarious situations. We also provide beanies, mittens and toys.
That’s awesome Valerie! Keep making those squares!!
I teach crochet (and have for about 24 years) and after a while you have made just about everything you, your family and friends can use. I now crochet for Answers For Life. I have a goal of making at least one pair of booties each day for the charity. Answers For Life is a charity which gives seminars, guidance, also both medical and psychological services (with encouragement for adoption) to unmarried young women. After counseling, the young ladies can choose a layette for their baby from the many things volunteers donate as well as other supplies they may/will need such as diapers. I enjoy being creative with my booties. Animals and inventive trims for the booties are my speciality. I encourage everyone to donate to charity, it is good for the soul.
That is so true Mary! You can run out of things to make for family and friends but never for charity. A pair of booties each day sounds like a great goal! Keep up the crocheting 🙂
i have made over 300 crocheted lap afghans for nursing homes, plus 58 pairs of crocheted socks,20 hats and 27 lap quilts.
Wow, that is amazing Lois! Keep up the great work!
here are two chicken sweater pattern links
http://dazed81.blogspot.com/2011/12/one-chicken-sweater-made-five-more-to.html
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flouncy-chicken-sweater
I would love to do Mats for Cats…they are approximately 16×18 inch (or any appropriate size) mats, ususally done in hdc, for animals at shelters to line the cage and to take home with them when they get adopted to help because sometimes they may be nervous and scared. There is at least one group on fb but sometimes I help women at work coming in for yarn for this very project…almost any shelters take them
Thanks for the patterns Sue!
Yes, a lot of shelters take mats for cats. I know my local shelters do too. They call them 16 inch granny squares at my shelter.
I also crochet for Bridget Cradles, Ialso crochet hats for our local hospital for newborns. last year I crocheted 60 hats for children at our local grade school. So no child would go cold. about 90% of my crocheting is for charity.
Hey Rachel & Everyone else.
I got curious about the octocuddlers myself. Found this article with a pattern link at the end. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14913656.amp
I crochet baby blankets for women’s shelters, churches, and The Salvation Army. Since I retired in 1995 I think I have crocheted more than 420 blankets.
I am addicted to crocheting, and blankets, which I call ” a hug for a baby”.
I must keep a blanket started upstairs, and one downstairs, so my hands will not be idle.
I keep my crochet hook next to my bed on my night table, so when I open my eyes in the mornings, thanks to God, I know what my job is right after breakfast.
Hi my name is Kaye I would love to crochet things for charity. I like to crochet for our church fetes and that.I live in Perth Western Australia. If someone could let me know of a few charities that would be good. Thanks Kaye.
Hi Kaye; I do a lot of crocheting baby blankets for women’s shelters. Do you have one in Australia? The shelters usually have babies and toddlers there who would love your creations. Check it out.