Did you know that you can use your stitching hobby to make the world a better place? You can, and here’s everything you need to know to get started today.
How I got started
One of my favorite things about college was the opportunity to participate in charitable organizations as part of my classes.
I took the opportunity to find causes and organizations aligned with my values and built relationships with them by providing volunteer service hours.
But my favorite project was knitting hats for babies around the world.
Imagine being driven from your home because of war or civil unrest, leaving with a small child and only what you could carry with you, not knowing where you would end up or if you would ever return home. Then, you land in a refugee camp where you will stay for months or years. No job, no income, and no way to provide necessities for your family as the seasons begin to change and the temperatures drop.
Thanks to crafters worldwide, warm hats, booties, and blankets are sent to refugees to keep their children warm and protected from the elements.
My heart breaks when I think of these families and these sweet children But, I love knowing that somewhere in the world a mother is keeping her baby warm with the small items I made.
Do my hats and booties change their circumstances? Unfortunately, no. But they do ease the suffering along the way.
I can’t control governments or militaries. I can’t stop the turmoil in the world. But I can use my skills and time to help ease the suffering caused by the unrest.
And so can you.
Why You Should Stitch For a Cause
Aside from any personal sense of duty to contribute, there are many reasons for being involved with a cause.
Giving service improves mental health by relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety Service is nature’s Prozac It makes you feel so good!
Plus, being involved with a group or an organization that shares your values and does good in the world gives you a sense of belonging and purpose Many friendships and relationships develop through working towards a shared goal of pursuing a common cause And this also improves your mental health!
As a bonus, using your skills to create handmade goods donated to others contributes to the sustainability of the planet and decreases consumerism This is especially true if you purchase natural yarns from small businesses that make their yarn.
The decision to use stitching to do good in the world a no-brainer It just makes sense to use something you already love doing to make the world a better place.
So, now that you know the why, here’s the how.
How to Get Started On Your Journey to Help the World Be a Better Place
There are many organizations that are seeking handmade items for donation.
World Vision’s Knit for Kids program is one of my favorites because they are uniting knitters worldwide to provide warm, handmade items for children who do not have access to warm clothing.
Doing a quick Google search brings up a variety of options that you can go check out.
Here are ten that I found for you:
- Knots of Love– Cancer patients & NICU babies
- Warm Up America– Poor and homeless
- Project Linus– Children in need
- Crochet for Cancer– Cancer Patients
- Alice’s Embrace– Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Care to Knit– Homeless individuals
- The Pink Slipper Project– Homeless women and children
- Mother Bear Project– Children with HIV/AIDS
- Knit Big for Little Lungs– Newborns and Preemies in the NICU
- Wildlife Rescue Nests-Rescued baby wild animals
As you can see, you can find a variety of charitable organizations looking for donations. So, Google a charity near and dear to your heart, or scroll through and see if anything pops out at you.
Once you find a charity, look through their website to find their donation instructions. Many of these sites will provide patterns and give detailed instructions about how to donate.
You can purchase yarn, look for yarn at a thrift tore, or ask for yarn donations. These strategies keep your costs down and make it financially feasible to be able to donate more items.
Then, get stitching!
You Make the World a Better Place
The world doesn’t change by talking about change, dreaming of change, or wishing for a better world.
Change happens when everyday people like you and me take action.
So why not use your hobby to enact the change you want to see in the world, while simultaneously improving your own life?
Drop down in the comments and let me know which charity you are working with, or DM me on Instagram anytime. I would love to connect with you and see what you’re working on.
Happy stitching!
xo —Lavena
P.S. Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet for Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of the thousands of women who unlocked the secret to experiencing joy and living an inspired life.
