FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

The holidays are the perfect time to crochet and knit slipper socks, hats, and mittens for local organizations that collect items for needy kids. In our area, many stores and businesses put out 'Giving' trees. Those wishing to donate one of these items can bring them in to the store or business where one of these trees are located and hang them on the branches. A week or so before the end of the holiday season, volunteers gather all of the mittens, scarves, and socks and with the help of a variety of organizations that have the knowledge of where these items will best be put to use, help distribute them. Most of them are put to use locally, but overruns can and will be donated outside of our area to other places in need. This year especially, with the many disasters affecting our country, I can imagine that some will even make their way south to the warmer states that many of these items are not normally thought of as needing them. Evenings and nights can be cold

Projects such as these are excellent ways to put your extra yarn to use, or to use as a task when you are teaching another person to crochet or knit. They also make great projects for knitting or crochet groups who use their skills to make items for other needy groups throughout the year, such as those that get together to make blankets for premature infants.

If you would rather devote your efforts to the elderly, ask if any of the places accepting donations, have outlets for the socks, mittens, and hats in larger sizes. If so, you could inquire if they also have a need for lap blankets. Many senior centers have a need for small sized crocheted or knitted blankets that they can use to tuck around the lap of a wheelchair bound individual. If you live in a location that is near to a large metropolitan hospital, there may also be a need for these for their general population of all ages. Call and inquire if they have any local groups you should contact to make a donation through, or if they accept donations directly.

While other clothing items are accepted year round and during the holidays, these items, which can be either handmade or purchased new for giving, fit a specific need during the chilly and cold winter months surrounding the holiday season. They are small, so can be made quickly, and often with leftover yarns. They are also a great way to bring together friends for an afternoon of coffee or tea and a bit of chatting. Invite a few friends over and tell them to bring a skein or two of leftover yarn and their hooks or needles. If you are looking for a way to donate this holiday season, and already know how to crochet or knit, or want to learn, this is a great reason to either put those skills to use, or finally to learn.