Here are the collected links for the charity organizations that the wacky knitters (and crocheters) over on Ravelry.Com work their sticks for. As much as possible, the text describing the organization is lifted directly from the sites.  

 

Many of these links are repeated from other groups as we're trying to make this a somewhat comprehensive list, organized by topic, theme, and then alphabetized.  Yes, some links are listed twice when appropriate (such as the Mother Bear Project, which applies to children with serious medical issues and to foreign aid).

 

Although many of these links lead or organizations who are affiliated with religious organizations and churches, the Charity Knitters' group is primarily secular and not associated with any particular faith.  We do welcome people with any motivation, since that tends to raise us all above labels.

Animals

The Snuggles Project - The Snuggles Project was founded by our president and founder, Rae French, in 1996 because of her heartfelt need to do something for the innocent victims who find themselves in animal shelters without a bit of comfort to call their own.

 

 

Babies and Kids with Medical Issues

Bonnie Babies -  For six years, "Bonnie Babies" has been making and sending tiny premature-sized clothes, blankets, and (sadly) burial outfits to the U.K. special baby care units, also to parents who need our support.  We are a non-profit voluntary organization, depending entirely on the hard work, kindness, and dedication from members and friends without whose support none of this would be possible.

 

Bundles of Love - Every 4 hours, a baby in Minnesota goes home with a free bundle of 25 items produced by Bundles Of Love. Without this bundle, the baby would have nothing - no clothing, no bedding, no diaper bag. The parents frequently are unable to provide these basic needs and our volunteers have come forward to help.
 

 CARE Package - Our mission is to help CARE for all the other babies who, like Robby, don't survive.  This includes neonatal loss as well as miscarriages and stillborn infants. We hand-crochet and hand-knit items to deliver to hospitals, to be given to the parents as they prepare to say goodbye to their little one.

 

Care Wear - Care Wear is a nationwide group of volunteers who knit, crochet, and/or sew, providing handmade baby items to hospitals. All Care Wear items are given free to infants, children and their parents.

Heart 2 Heart - Making "angel dresses" for preemies, stillborn, and medically compromised babies in the Boston area.

 

Heavenly Angels in Need - Neonatal, memory box, casket and comfort divisions

 

Knitting for Noggins - Help make a difference in the lives of patients and families at Arkansas Children's Hospital! Knit or crochet hats for children of all ages through our Knitting for Noggins program.

 

Newborns in Need - Organized to take care of sick and needy babies and their families; and in cases of crisis, to help where help is needed.

 

PAKCanada: Project Angel Kisses - Project Angel Kisses was originally started as a U.S. ministry to help meet the very special needs of precious preemies. 

 

 Project Linus -  It is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."

 

 Mercy Knitters -  A website for anyone who would like to knit preemie baby hats for the newborns in Mercy Medical Center's NICU in Des Moines, IA

  

  Missing Grace - To provide resources and support for families that have experienced: pregnancy loss, infant loss, infertility or adoption and to advocate for comprehensive, patient-focused prenatal care for all women. Five core areas encompass the heart of the mission: Grieve, Restore, Arise, Commemorate and Educate.

 

Mother Bear Project - Dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears.

 

Stitches from the Heart - Stitches from the Heart is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that sends handmade clothing, blankets, and love to premature babies all across the nation. We also have a senior program that helps seniors help others by donating yarn and supplies.

 

TLC for Angels - We service several hospitals a year to deliver donations of handmade items consisting of hats, booties, blankets, sweaters, buntings, take-me-home ensembles, toys, activity kits, bereavement gowns, etc., generously and lovingly created by crafters located across the U.S. and internationally who sew, crochet or knit. For the benefit of those who would like to help but feel they are crafting-challenged, we have created ideas of how to help, such as our Angel Caches along with several other suggestions.

Touching Little Lives- The extremely small size of many of these infants makes it difficult to find clothing that fits, and when it can be found, is often beyond the affordable range of many families.   Every item which we provide is completely free of charge and no one in our organization receives any salary or compensation for their work.
 

Warm Hearts, Warm Babies - We are a group of kind-hearted volunteers that help to make life easier for Colorado's tiniest citizens. We sew, knit, crochet, and quilt for premature infants and babies in need.  We donate to hospitals, crisis pregnancy centers, shelters, law enforcement agencies, foster care, WIC offices, and individuals across much of the state of Colorado.

 

Cancer and Health

Canadian Cancer Society - A community-based organization of volunteers, whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer.  In English and French.

 

Caps for a Cure - Join us as we knit caps for chemotherapy patients.  Feel the satisfaction of reaching out to others as you enjoy knitting along with the group.  (Yahoo group)

 

Head Huggers -  My plan is to distribute the caps to hospitals, oncology offices, hospices, etc. so that they can more readily be available to those who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. But to make it work, I need volunteers to help with the production and distribution. Won't you consider joining me?

 

Montel Williams MS Foundation  - Dedicated to furthering the scientific study of multiple sclerosis.

 

Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation - The Foundation exists to heighten awareness and raise funds for breakthrough cancer research and exemplary patient care.

 

Susan G. Komen Foundation -  To save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people,
ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

Charity-Listing Sites and Pattern Sites

Artists Helping Children - Artists Helping Children is a Children's site dedicated to comforting children by empowering artists and others to donate artwork, donated murals, donated art supplies, donated toys and a lot of love to sick and needy children.

  

Knit4Charities - Knit4Charities is a Yahoo group, based in Australia, dedicated to knitting and crocheting items to donate to needy people throughout our community.  All of our donations are given freely to whoever needs them - our items are not for sale under any circumstances.

 

Lion Brand Charity Connection - As a new, free feature to the Lion Brand Community,  we are offering a charity registry and a search feature so those who wish to craft for charity or donate can find appropriate groups and services.

 

Domestic (US, Canada, and Australian) Kids in Need

Orphan Foundation of America: Red Scarf Project -  In 2005, OFA launched a unique initiative to warm the hearts (and necks) of college-bound foster youth. We began taking donations of handmade red scarves to put into our Valentine's Day Care Packages...

 

Stitch for a Cause - Stitch for a Cause is a community service project at Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville, Kentucky. The group knits, crochets, sews, and quilts baby blankets and apparel for several local children's agencies. Your help is greatly needed as we rely on donations to supply yarn, fabric and other materials for crafting. We would also welcome contributions of handmade sweaters, hats, booties, or other items that would provide warmth and comfort to needy children in the Louisville area.

Event -Specific Relief

Blankets for the Gulf -  Are blankets still needed? ABSOLUTELY! You may think that everything is back to normal along the Gulf Coast, but sadly, that's very far from the truth. Many people are just now moving out of FEMA trailers and now need all kinds of supplies to replenish their new homes. Others are still in trailers and feeling forgotten.

 

San Diego Wild Fire Blanket Project -  There were 1588 homes destroyed in the 7 fires that raged through San Diego County the week of October 21, 2007.  The goal is to get blankets into every families hand for the Holidays but as we learned with the Cedar Fires of 2003, the rebuilding process is a slow and steady one.

Foreign Aid 

Afghans for Afghans - A humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan.

 

Children in Common - Children In Common is a charitable program of Adoptions Together, Inc. We continue to support those children who remain in orphanages in  Russia and Lithuania. 

The Dulaan Project -  The Dulaan Project seeks to inspire the generous spirit of the knitting community to help meet the urgent needs of Mongolia's impoverished people.

 

Finding Forty Gathering Knitting - a blog by a lady helping folks in Afghanistan, Labrador and Mongolia.

 

KZN Baby Pack -  The Baby Pack Project in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, provides small packs of clothing items to mothers of newborns who would otherwise have nothing. Crafters worldwide send items to be packed and donated.

Mittens for Akkol - This group was originally formed to knit mittens for children in the orphanage in Akkol, Kazakakhstan. We have now broadened our scope to include any warm woolen items as warm items are not available in the local market. The snow starts flying in August and finally melts in April. Temps reach down to 40 BELOW ZERO in mid winter. (Yahoo group)

 

Mother Bear Project - Dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears.

Warm Woolies -  Warm Woolies is a non-profit organization whose volunteers knit warm clothing for poverty-stricken children who would otherwise suffer from cold. Our mission is to provide the very neediest children with wool sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and slippers.

 

Homeless and Underprivileged

Binky Patrol -  We welcome all volunteers.  We make blankets and give them away to children and teens in need of comfort across the country.  We have local chapters and events.  Binky Patrol welcomes students and scouts.

 

Blankets for Canada - We are a non-denominational organization devoted to creating blankets for those Canadians who need the warmth they provide. We are totally non-profit and everything is donated by warm hearted people just like you.

Caps for Kids -  Providing needy children with cozy hats to keep them warm is what Caps for Kids is all about. Nearly one million caps, along with other children's accessories, have been knitted and crocheted by volunteers since the program began. The hats are given to non-profit, non denominational agencies in the communities of the donors.

Cubs for Kids - Knitwear for teddy bears that are given to homeless children.

 

Hats for the Homeless - Hats for the Homeless grew out of the heart of one young man who cared about those less fortunate. He died suddenly in 1998. Hats for the Homeless was created in his memory to continue the tradition he started.

Knit for Kids by Guideposts - Their generosity is proof positive that caring and love can bring hope to families and their little ones challenged by poverty, disaster and despair.

 

Warm Up America -  An organization made up of volunteers who create handmade afghan blankets, clothing and accessories to help those in need.

 

Warming Families -  Warming Families, a project of the  One Heart Foundation, is a 100% volunteer project that delivers  blankets and other warm items to the homeless and displaced while strengthening families through charity work. At the heart of this project are Area Volunteers who function to coordinate efforts and locate and supply local shelters and nursing homes.

Multi-focused Sites

Charitable Crafters -  Charitable Crafters began back in August of 2001 when I realized the need in our community. A warm coat, sweater, snow pants, hat, scarf, and mittens can be difficult for people to purchase even if they aren't on a limited income.  We started by donating items to the Kid's Closet through the Duluth public school system. We quickly branched out to supplying warm handmade outerwear for all ages and then we began supplying area hospitals with chemo caps and nursing homes with walker bags. My aim is to have crafters create items that they enjoy making while producing something that the community can use. 

 

  Luba's Blanket - We are a charitable volunteer organization who understands that sometimes even the simplest gift is appreciated. Luba's Blanket started as a call for help for the child victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The idea was presented by the Jewish Family Foundation. We thought it would be a wonderful program to continue on a local level.  In Russian, luba means love. The blankets are now being offered to children in hospitals as well as the elderly in nursing and rehabilitation homes.

 

Warm the World -  We are a 100% volunteer organization creating children's hats & scarves, baby afghans, adult lap afghans and soldier hats.  As our volunteer base grows and our production expands, we continually add organizations to our list of those we support. Checkout our Who We Support page for details. 

 

 Native American Outreach

Adopt-a-Native Elder Program -  The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program exists to create a Bridge of Hope between Native Americans and other cultures. It allows us to reach out to one another, share our gifts, and mend the broken circle of our relationship with the Land and the Native Americans who hold it in sacred trust.

Cheyenne River Youth Project 

Macuwita sni ("I'm not cold!") - The several thousand children of the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota need our hand knitted wool sweaters!!!

National Relief Charities - National Relief Charities (NRC) provides program services that benefit Native Americans throughout the United States. Our mission is "To help Native American people improve the quality of their lives by providing opportunities for them to bring about positive changes in their communities." 

Soldiers and Veterans

AnySolider.Com - Creating care packages fo U.S. soldiers who have no family or support Stateside. 

        Also: AnyMarine.Com, AnySailor.Com, AnyAirman.Com, and AnyCoastGuard.Com. 

 

 Helmet Liners for Soldiers - We currently have more than 200,000 troops in overseas theaters where they are subjected to sub-zero windchills during the winter. Please help us have a warm helmet liner for each one of these troops before next winter. 

 

Knit Your Bit -  The National WWII Museum is proud to launch its own Knit Your Bit campaign. You can help the Museum honor WWII veterans by Knitting Your Bit- in this case a simple, but cozy, scarf to be donated to a veteran in a Veterans Center somewhere in the United States.

Operation Toasty Toes - Operation Toasty Toes distributes home-crafted slippers to US Servicemen & Women, stationed abroad (Knit & crochet slippers)

 

 The Ships Project - General knitted items for sailors and soldiers.

 

Socks for Soldiers -  This group is about sending gifts of love to our soldiers in the Middle East.  Since an army travels not on its stomach, but on its feet, please help us take care of them.  If we get every knitter we contact to knit one pair of military standard socks for men or women we can meet our mission. (Yahoo group)

 

Other Ravelry Groups

This is not a full list of charity organizations on Ravelry, but it does provide a nice example of the full range of interests out there.  

 

Charity Log Cabins - log cabin blankets for kids 

 

Code Pink - Breast Cancer Awareness 

 

Helping Hands for Homeless Animals -  comfort items, sweaters, and toys for animals in shelters

 

Scarves from the Heart -  Scarves for cancer patients