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I was recently interviewed by the Innocence Project for a featured piece in its newsletter about why I give. The Innocence Project is a non-profit organization that works to free innocent people who were wrongfully convicted. To date, 245 people in the United States have been exonerated by DNA testing, including 17 who served time on death row. Check out the October newsletter and what I had to say!  

Other amazing charities to help!

Knit-a-Square NEW! A South African charity crochet and knitting project to make and send 8" x 8" squares, which will be made into blankets. Every single square that is sent will be used in a blanket to keep an AIDS orphan or abandoned child warm. Soweto Comfort Club, who have taken up this knitting project with great enthusiasm, join and distribute the blankets.

The Handmade Afghans Project (HAP) NEW! Members crochet and knit 6x9 rectangles of acrylic yarn and mail them to a central location. About every 3 months, volunteers gather together in Maryland and design afghans at Put Together Events (PTEs). Our rectangle sets are then sent out to members who crochet them together. When returned to Maryland, the competed afghans are washed and wrapped, then delivered to Army and Navy Hospitals where the Red Cross distributes them to our wounded soldiers.

Contagious Hope Ministries NEW! Spreading seeds of hope to children in orphanages around the world. Currently in need of baby booties, prayer shawls, hats, mittens, scarfs, quilts/blankets and soft hand made toys.

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

Afghans for Angel Project (AFA Project) is a not for profit, philanthropic organization whose primary program is to construct and distribute comforting, hand-made, afghans to children with life-threatening illnesses. Other projects include blankets, booties, and hat for neo-natal intensive care units, and chemo caps for kids. These items are given to children, usually by the request of a friend or family member at no cost to the child or the child's family. The mission of the AFA Project is to educate, encourage, and promote grass-roots giving programs and philanthropic efforts developed by individuals and groups worldwide. Through the donations of time, energy, and hand-made items from crafters across the globe, and the generous financial support of individuals and businesses worldwide, the AFA Project is able to continue its philanthropic efforts from year to year.

Binky Patrol makes afghans and gives them away to children and teens in need of comfort across the country. Binky Patrol welcomes students and scouts.

Afghans Etc, makes all kinds of crocheted afghans for children ranging from newborns to teenagers. Volunteers make afghans, chemo hats, slippers, tote bags, layette sets, backpacks, and the list goes on.

Mother Bear Project provides comfort and hope to children, primarily those afflicted or affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knitted teddy bears.

Teddies for Tragedies would like to send teddy bears to as many children as possible. Knit or crochet hand made teddies to help them! To date, they have sent over 1000 bears to children in: Mexico, Lebanon, Romania, Costa Rica, Brazil.

Artists Helping Children is a nonprofit org that provides sick and needy children with free art supplies, stuffed animals, and murals for free. We need some creative Crocheters. We are filling up bags full of art supplies and cuddly animals to ship off to very ill children in hospitals. There is no greater way to show you care than to make a cuddly toy or beautiful bag for a sick or needy child.

Sojourn Bears primary mission is to make cancer bear-able by providing inspiration and comfort to cancer patients through the distribution of original hand-made teddy bears. Its secondary mission is to offer opportunities to others for healing and nurturing through participation in our program.

Bridging People and Places makes hand knit sweaters for teddy bears to be given to kids and other projects.

Save the Children, Caps to the Capital : After Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers 2006 report highlighted simple, low-cost practices that could save newborn lives — like warming their heads with a knit or crochet cap — Save the Children received numerous calls and e-mails from Americans around the country wanting to organize their friends and family to knit and crochet caps for newborns in developing countries.

Brimming with Love offers monthly baskets of new & home-made hats free of charge to hospitals across the Metroplex area. These hats will be distributed to men & women undergoing cancer therapy.

Head Huggers distributes crochet hats and 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, etc.

Caps for Kids provides needy children with cozy crochet hats to keep them warm. 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.

Newborns in Need : Newborns in Need, Inc. (NIN) is a 501 (c) 3 charity organized to take care of sick and needy babies and their families; and in cases of crisis, to help where help is needed.

Stitches From the Heart : We are a non profit organization that sends handmade (crochet, knit or sewn) 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. Call us Toll Free: 1-866-472-6903 or Sign up to be a member by e-mailing us at StitchFromHeart@aol.com.

Warm Hearts ~ Warm Babies: We are a group of volunteers who 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 (Women in Crisis) offices, and individuals across much of the state of Colorado. All of our gifts are donated free of charge and 100% of what we receive in donations goes to help the babies. No one in our organization takes a salary.

Project Linus, Providing Security Through Blankets: Project Linus consists of volunteers who crochet, knit and quilt blankets for local seriously ill and traumatized children. They currently donate over 150 blankets per month. Recipients include Loma Linda Children's Hospital, Riverside Regional Medical Center, Royal Family Kids Kamp (for Foster Children), Ronald McDonald House, Schlessinger Foundation (My Stuff Bags), Thessolonika Family Services Home for abused and molested children to our recipient list and Virginia's Home for Abused Women and Children.

Heavenly Angels in Need: Heavenly Angels in Need sends items out to hospitals that have NICU's. NICU's have premature babies, sick babies from mothers who abused drugs and overdue babies. They donate to at-risk Pregnancy centers and are also going to donate to funeral homes that need gowns and items for babies whom passed away.

Angels For Hope: Angels for Hope was originally for chronically ill and terminally ill people and it has grown to "anyone in need of hope or a smile". Help them let people know there are others out there who care.

Let us know about your favorite craft charity!