Each year Special Olympics USA asks volunteers to knit and crochet thousands of scarves as "a symbol of unity, support, compassion and empowerment" for the Special Olympic athletes, coaches, family members, volunteers, and supporters. Check their website (link below) for each year's colors and specific guidelines.
Warm Up America (WUA) is the perfect project for beginning knitters who want to begin charity knitting. Knit 7"x9" rectangles and drop them off at your local Michael's or sponsoring yarn shops or knitting groups. Volunteers knit the donated rectangles together and donate to local charities to keep people warm during the cold months. If no organizations in your area participate, send knitted rectangles to: Warm Up America!/469 Hospital Dr., 2nd Floor Suite E/Gastonia, NC 28054.
Many veterans hospitals ask charity knitters to knit lap blankets for disabled veterans who are wheelchair bound. No special patterns or yarns are required. Contact your local veterans' hospital for additional details and to make sure they accept hand knitted items.
Check local schools, scout troops, homes shelters, and craft stores for scarf and mitten drives. Beginning knitters can knit simple scarves and fingerless gloves. Donated items are then distributed to homeless and low income families in your area.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of cancer patients lose their hair due to chemotherapy treatments. Groups such as ChemoCaps and HeadHuggers ask volunteer charity knitters for handmade knitted hats. Check their websites for local groups so your knitted items stay in your area. Both organizations offer free patterns for beginning knitters.
Need more ideas? Check out ProjectLinus.org for a database of local charity knitting projects, free patterns, and more.
Love these charity knitting projects. H5
What a wonderful Idea.
Wonderful list of knitting projects to benefit others in need. A fine article!
select one here...