Charities We Support

In 2024-2025, our three groups donated 2,906 items to our local charities.  These items included hats, mitts, sweaters and other clothing for babies, children and adults.  We also made household items such as blankets, dish cloths, table linens, and baskets.  Not everything was "practical" - we also made many soft toys for the children.  This season we welcomed a number of students who knitted and crocheted items for us as part of their volunteer hours.  What a great way to keep these skills alive and current!

West Ottawa Knitters currently supports the following charities:

• Bethany Hope Centre:  The Salvation Army's Bethany Hope Centre exists to improve the well-being of pregnant youth and young-parent families in Ottawa.

• Cornerstone Women's Emergency Shelter:  Emergency shelter for homeless women and gender diverse people.  Can accommodate 165 women.

• Foster Farm:  Located in the West end of Ottawa, Foster Farm Family House supports residents of this large neighbourhood of Ottawa Social Housing with a wide variety of programs and services.  These include a food bank and programs for children and adults, such as supporting families who have moved from shelter care, a literacy program, computer use, after school care and camps, Somali support, and referrals for food, furniture and clothing.  Foster Farm Family House welcomes all kinds of knitted and crocheted work for children and adults, and offer our items in their gently used clothing room.

• Matthew House:  Matthew House is an Ottawa based charity, serving all of Ottawa and outer areas. Matthew House provides shelter services and community support to refugees who are settling in Ottawa. Essential settlement support is provided to assist with finding a home and a job. Over 700+ claimants have been helped to date. Matthew House also provide newcomers, women, children, homeless and low income families with furnishing their new homes with furniture donations from the community. Located in Kanata, the Matthew House furniture showroom allows clients to choose their own essential home furnishings. In meeting clients housing needs, a huge stress is removed from them while they settle in their new home. To date, over 25,000 people have been helped through Matthew House furniture bank program.  Our knit goods will add nicely to Matthew House's clients needs and their efforts to make their home more "homey" with our beautiful knit goods. Clothing items will also be readily welcomed to many clients walking through the showroom.

• Ottawa City Outreach and Mobile Services:  The Outreach and Mobile Services Team (OMST) is a team of case workers from Employment and Social Services located at a variety of community agencies helping residents find and access City and community social supports.

• Queensway Carleton Hospital:  Childbirth Program providing care for mothers and babies of the Ottawa area.

• Winthrop Court Community House:  A dedicated hub of support and opportunities for residents in the Ottawa Community Housing neighbourhoods of Winthrop Private, Eva Taylor Court, and Starflower/Regina Lane. Since 2001, we have been collaborating closely with the community, striving to meet their needs and create strong neighborhood engagement.  Our small but mighty community hub serves 181 households comprising both singles and families within the three communities. Our location is easily accessible, providing a welcoming drop-in space where supportive staff are readily available. All our programs are completely free of charge, ensuring equal access for everyone.

We have also supported the following charities:

• Michele Heights Community House:  Located in the Ottawa Community Housing neighbourhood of Michele Heights in the West End of Ottawa, the Michele Heights Community House serves as a program hub for the local community. We are committed to providing a variety of programs and services to enhance the well-being and quality of life for our residents. Currently, we have 137 units that are home to approximately 480 people.

We also respond to specific requests from other local charities for items such as hats for premature babies and Christmas ornaments for a bereavement group in conjunction with our WCCK groups.

Please tell us about any local charity which may need our work. 

In 2023-2024, West Ottawa Knitters made and donated a total of 1,500 items, including winter hats and gloves, clothing and household items, and even toys to our local charities.