Crocheting and crafting for charity is something I really love to do!
A few years ago, I was driving along, lost in thought about how much my life has changed in just the last few years.
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I was thinking about all of the stumbling I've done and how many times I have had to ask for help. Asking for help isn't always easy...actually, it can be embarrassing.
My grandmother is someone who has always been there for me and one thing she always says is "If you have it to give, you should!" She believes that if you have extra, then you should give to someone that needs it.
It was her words that inspired me to start the Crochet Charity Drive. You can join the group HERE.
Each Spring and Fall we run a drive, with various themes, to help those in need. The very first event was a mitten drive.
I had read an article in my local paper about a group of homeless community down by the river, some in tents, some not. I live in
Maine, where the temperature gets below freezing for most of the winter. That article broke my
heart!
I then remembered how I overheard a couple of teachers at my child's
school saying some kids didn't even have winter coats, let
alone gloves. That also broke my heart!
These two thoughts ran together and I thought "Wow, we can all do so
much with just one small gesture!"
So, I set up the event, rounded up some like minded designers, and we designed mitten patterns that our friends in the crochet community could make and donate to their local homeless shelters and more.
During this time I was contacted by Mittens for Detroit, a non-profit organization that collects and distributes mittens and gloves to people in need in the Detroit, Michigan area. They wanted us to know what their mission was, so people involved in our charity drive knew of a great place that accepts donations.
Here's what you need to know about Mittens for Detroit:
Recipients
Men, Women, and Children
Needs
- Handmade or Store bought Gloves and Mittens.
- Monetary donations for purchasing Gloves and Mittens are also accepted.
Requirements
- Gloves and Mittens must be NEW and UNUSED.
- There are local collection boxes, but there is a "collection season"; They only accept donations from October 1st through January 31st.
Here's a quote from their website: "We
prefer that they are easy-care yarn or fabric. If you choose to line the
mittens, please do so with an easy-care fabric. We ask that gloves for children
under age 3 be created without embellishments that might pose a safety hazard."
Mailing Address
Mittens for Detroit
Attn: W. Shepherd
PO Box 448
Clawson, MI 48017-0448
Contact
info@mittensfordetroit.org
www.facebook.com/MittensForDetroit
Looking for a great free mitten pattern to make and donate? Check out my Friday Mittens! It's a quick and easy pattern, made with chunky yarn. They are also great for wearing over thin "magic mittens/gloves"!
Thanks for taking time to check out this post and learn more about a great charity! Donating to those in need is something I am very passionate about, and I always love learning of new places that accept the things we make with love!
Sonya Blckstone is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Labels: Blackstone Designs, Charity, Charity Spotlight, Crochet, Crochet for Charity, Free Crochet Pattern, Gloves, mittens, Mittens for Detroit, Oombawka Design Crochet
