 | Fortunately, there are a great number of people that make financial contributions to worthy organizations, but for many, chunks of money can be difficult to trim out from a budget. If you wish to be able to give of yourself to others, but don't feel able to make a monetary contribution, put forth your sewing skills instead. There are numerous organizations out there that gladly accept donations of sewn items or sewing materials. There were so many, in fact, that I was overwhelmed looking at page after page, each with their own compelling story, so I decided to organize it by category to make it easier to find a charity in an area of interest to you. The sites are listed in alphabetical order. If you know of an organization that is missing from the list, please let me know and I will update the list accordingly. First up is the Infants and Children category. Others will include charities helping military personnel and animals, among others |
Infants and Children
Arizona Blankets for Kids - http://www.azblankets4kids.com/Based in the metropolitan Phoenix area, volunteers provide blankets to needy, ill, or traumatized children in the local community.
ABC Quilts - http://www.americanmothers.org/reach
ABC stands for At Risk Babies & Children. ABC Quilts are made by volunteers and given to babies who are born HIV-positive, or to drug/alcohol addicted mothers, or abandoned.
Baby Threads of New Hampshire - http://www.babythreadsofnh.com/
This organization put together tote bags filled with clothing and a quilt or afghan and gives them to pre-natal clinics and birthing centers across New Hampshire. If you are local, join them for a sew day or send them ready made items. Check the wish list for specifics.
Binky Patrol - http://www.binkypatrol.org/
Binky is a nickname for a handmade blanket. Binky Patrol volunteers make blankets that are given to children and teens that are in need of comfort across the country. Check the listing for a chapter near you.
Bundles of Love - http://www.bundlesoflove.org/
Bundles of Love volunteers provide bundles of 25 items to babies and families in Minnesota that would otherwise go home with nothing. Find out how you can help.
Care Wear - http://www.carewear.org/
Care Wear provides handmade baby items that are given to hospitals for distribution to families at no cost. The website has a directory of hospitals with specific needs noted.
Dolly Donations - http://dollydonations.blogspot.com/
Volunteers organize dolly and toy making drives to be given to children in poverty- or disaster-striken areas such as Japan and Haiti.
Dress a Girl Around the World - http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/
The goal of this group is to enable every little girl to own at least one dress. Volunteers have made and distributed over 38,000 dresses to girls in 48 different countries.
Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts - http://www.familynurturing.org/volunteer.html
You can make blankets for inclusion in Welcome Baby Baskets given to needy families in Massachusetts.
Firehouse Quilts- http://www.firehousequilts.org/
Firehouse Quilts of Colorado makes snuggle quilts and donates them to fire departments, ambulance services and medical centers in Colorado. Larger quilts are also given to a women's crisis center. If you are in the area, you can join in on their sew days, otherwise, they also take quilt donations.
God's Tiny Angels - http://danettesangels.tripod.com/home.html
This volunteer group makes baby items and donates them to hospitals in various states. Join the Yahoo Group to learn more.
Holy Sews - http://www.holysews.org/
Holy Sews is affliliated with Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. They make specially sized burial layettes for families that have experienced neo-natal loss.
Little Dresses for Africa - http://www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog/
Volunteers make simple pillowcase dresses for distribution to little girls in Africa.
Miracles Happen - http://www.miracleshappen.us/
A network of volunteers makes and distributes baby items for newborn babies to pregnancy crisis centers and maternity homes.
Newborns in Need - http://www.newbornsinneed.org/
Newborns in Need was founded by busy mom Carol Green in 1992. Volunteers make and donate baby gowns, blankets, and other baby items to organizations in their local communities. Check the website to find a chapter in your area. If there isn't one close by, think about starting one!
