I recently learned of a wonderful opportunity for charity knitting that some of you might be interested in if you can knit quickly.
The Orphan Foundation of America, which is an organization supporting orphaned teenagers, routinely sends care packages to college students at the beginning and end of the school year and at Valentine's Day.
The Valentine's program is known as the Red Scarf Project, which sends thousands of homemade red scarves to college-aged foster youth around Valentine's Day. This simple gift may be the first homemade present these young people have ever received, and it warms their hearts as well as their bodies.
"For young people without loving families and homes, receiving a beautiful, handmade scarf sends a powerful message that people not only care about their hopes and dreams, but that they believe in their potential," said Eileen McCaffrey, executive director of the Orphan Foundation of America. "We encourage knitters to include a note or tag with their scarf that lists their name, city, and group affiliation so that it will become a treasured gift from a distant friend."
It can be hard to see other people getting packages from home and knowing that there is no home for you to get packages from. The care packages let the students know that someone is thinking of them, even if they aren't family.
Donated scarves can be any color of red, or red combined with other colors. Fringe is allowed but not necessary. Designs that are good for both genders are encouraged. Scarves should be at least five inches wide and 60 inches long. Machine washable yarns are probably a good idea, too.
If you want to help out this year, you need to be quick about it, as they only accept scarves during the month of January. But it's a great cause, if you've got a little extra knitting time on your hands in the next few days. To find out more, visit the Red Scarf Project's guidelines page There's also a pattern for a mock cable scarf there from Lily Chin.
The Orphan Foundation of America, which is an organization supporting orphaned teenagers, routinely sends care packages to college students at the beginning and end of the school year and at Valentine's Day.
The Valentine's program is known as the Red Scarf Project, which sends thousands of homemade red scarves to college-aged foster youth around Valentine's Day. This simple gift may be the first homemade present these young people have ever received, and it warms their hearts as well as their bodies.
"For young people without loving families and homes, receiving a beautiful, handmade scarf sends a powerful message that people not only care about their hopes and dreams, but that they believe in their potential," said Eileen McCaffrey, executive director of the Orphan Foundation of America. "We encourage knitters to include a note or tag with their scarf that lists their name, city, and group affiliation so that it will become a treasured gift from a distant friend."
It can be hard to see other people getting packages from home and knowing that there is no home for you to get packages from. The care packages let the students know that someone is thinking of them, even if they aren't family.
Donated scarves can be any color of red, or red combined with other colors. Fringe is allowed but not necessary. Designs that are good for both genders are encouraged. Scarves should be at least five inches wide and 60 inches long. Machine washable yarns are probably a good idea, too.
If you want to help out this year, you need to be quick about it, as they only accept scarves during the month of January. But it's a great cause, if you've got a little extra knitting time on your hands in the next few days. To find out more, visit the Red Scarf Project's guidelines page There's also a pattern for a mock cable scarf there from Lily Chin.
Comments
Um. So why didn’t someone send this information at the beginning of January instead of the end? Huh? After all if you knit up a scarf you still have to get to the post office before Feb. 1st. Not a very timely story.
I donated several last year that I had already made and weren’t what they were asking for this year. Hope they got used. I made one crocheted scarf for this project and started one in knit which will not be done in time. I am not very fast but now that I know it is ongoing I will have more ready for next year. This will be a great way to practice new stitches and patterns. This is a great charity!
I have not seen ANYTHING about this in any magazine or on Oprah until TODAY… JANAUARY 26th. Can we not have an extension since we did not know about this until TODAY??????????
I’m very disappointed that this information was not given sooner! Knitting for charity is something that I think all knitters should do. Please give us a heads up sooner, next time! I share this info. with our church knitting circle and other knitting friends. We didn’t even have a chance to check our stash and click a scarf off! How unfortunate, the timing was not any better!
I am not a fast knitter and there is not time to make a well put together scarf that is 60″ long man I wish i could knit that fast maybe next year for sure that’s what I am here for to help people that need help.
How about more info on charity knitting that we can do without such a near deadline? I would love to do some knitting for charity.
it would to see a yearly calendar of due dates for all of the time dependent charity gifts such as this. Many of us want to give, but don’t have enough time on such a short fuse
I am always knitting for various charities…wish this had been posted earlier too…there are several charities I knit for that do take scarves all year long–so don’t dispair if you don’t get your scarves done they are needed by other charities elsewhere too…along with mittens and lap blankets too.
This should have been in Decembers letters to us;its kind of late for this year.
For the person looking for a quick and easy ongoing knitting project: Several of my friends and I knit “Hats with Hugs.” They are for chemo patients or anyone with a medical problem causing loss of hair. We donate them to local hospitals in Chicago, Hinsdale and Western Springs, Il., as well as The Wellness House. Everyone is VERY appreciative to receive them!
I knit for a wonderful charity called Hugs for Homeless Pets. They started the Snuggles project to provide comfortable little blankets for animals in cages in rescue facilities. The website is http://www.h4ha.org/snuggles I also take the blankets to area facilities that express an interest. Great way to use leftover yarn and be creative. I’ve never had a kitty complain about my color combinations!
Addie, I would like more information on “Hats with Hugs.” I have just begun working on chemo caps and would like an address on where to send them.
I know a lot of you are disappointed about how late this was, but I only just got the information myself and posted it as soon as I could. I can only do as well as my sources.
But I am planning to do a “good deed of the month” sort of thing that will highlight a charity knitting experience, hopefully not all with deadlines, so that everyone can pitch in.
Please send a pattern that we could use for chemo hats. I am would like to help with this one. A contact to send them to would also be great.
I love the idea of a posting of all charitable groups that need knitting from us.
Thanx
Patti,
There’s a pretty good and growing colleciton of charity opportunities here: http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingcharities/Knitting_Community_Knitting_for_Charity.htm
And I’m working on some hat patterns, but in the meantime Chemo Caps has some good patterns: http://www.chemocaps.com/page3.htm
I would so love to participate in this project. I love knitting and knowing that it would be going to a young person who does not have a grandparent or Mum to make one for them makes it even more special. Like the others above though, why am I just hearing about this now? PLEASE give us an extension…….
I am not a knitter. I crochet. I would love to help with this project. Can we use the round looms for knitting the scarves?
Yes, scarves can be knit, crocheted or knit on a loom, I’m sure. For more information, visit http://www.orphan.org/red_scarf_project.xhtml
I have a chemo hat pattern and several charities that also include needs for chilidrens scarves and homeless peoples needs for hats, and scarves as well as other charities for nursing homes in need of slippers and lap blankets either knit or crocheted. So if anyone is interested in these charities let me know.
I take excemption to the word “homemade” rather than “handmade” in your article. Each project that I undertake is a challenge for improvement that has been going on for eighty years. I started my early learning at the age of four, handsewing doll clothes from Mother’s “rag bag.” At age five she taught me to crochet. Ten, an Aunt from Canada taught me to knit. Since then I have advanced to tatting, spinning and weaving. The world has progressed considerably but I can still feel the hunger for learning and the frustration of searching for written help.