Donations Made

The ladies of New Hill Baptist Church have met for 3 times now.  Getting together to learn how to loom knit hats, learning how to make a brim, and learning how to make a prayer shawl - all on the round looms.  Together we've made almost 300 items to donate!  Incredible!  Donations of warm winter hats and scarves are given to the Western Wake Crisis Center.  Donations of chemo hats given to an NC Cancer Center in Cary.  Donations of baby hats given to Wake Med - Cary.  Donations of Busy Aprons given to the Hospice Center of Wake County.
Each batch of donated items is blessed by the pastor and congregation of the church during Sunday service.

First Meeting - untangling yarn so it can be knitted on the loom

Knitting the first rows - going good

Once you get going, the hats work up quickly

1st batch donated to Western Wake Crisis

The basket on the left has the 2 busy aprons; the rest of the basket is chemo hats.

  The basked in the middle is full of baby hats.  The backed on the right is another load for Western Wake Crisis

A busy apron is shown and explained to the congregation

The congregation holds hands as the donations are blessed.

When: Kick Off Meeting at NHBC

Saturday, August 20th, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon

The first Crafting Blessings community outreach meeting will be a fun one - mainly concentrating on teaching those interested in loom knitting hats.  No yarn experience needed - just the desire to learn.  I have a small supply of looms and hooks to test out - see if it's something you really want to do.  I also have some skeins of yarn to get people started.

My main purpose is to have people join me in making items to donate.  An added bonus is for people to learn a new craft that they can use - not only to help others, but also to make gifts for their own friends and family.

Please pray for a successful Kick Off meeting - and the beginning of something new and exciting to help the community.

My Own Contributions

Crochet Preemie Hats and Diaper Shirt

Crochet Granny Square Hat and Chemo Hats

Knit Chemo Hats

Loom Knit Winter Hats

Crochet Prayer Shawl

First Contributions

This hat is the program's very first contribution - made by my friend Kim.  I taught Kim how to loom knit hats a couple of years ago,  I was so excited when she gave this to me a few weeks ago!

I've written to several yarn and fabric companies requesting donations of supplies so I can have them on hand for my first craft session coming up in August.
The other day I came home from work and found this box on my front porch.  Blessings, indeed, coming from Lion Brand Company!  Such soft yarn waiting to be turned into chemo hats!  I can't wait to see the final products, and I can't wait to deliver them to cancer treatment centers and hospitals! 

Places Needing Blessings

While attempting to gather volunteers, it has been important to me to them know where the items they've made will be donated.  Spending hours making an item by hand, when you know you might never meet the recipient, takes a big heart.  Making an item for a stranger is a selfless act, and the reward is the feeling of absolute rightness.  What a privilege it is to have the talent to create, and know you can bring an anonymous blessing to someone you don't even know.
As the founder of Crafting Blessings, I have attempted to make contact with some local cancer centers, hospitals, and shelters.  I'm starting out small for now - not knowing how many volunteers or blessings I'll be able to collect.  The good thing about this area is, there's no shortage of centers to seek assistance for medical or financial challenges.  We can start contributing to a few, and branch out to other centers as the donations start pouring in.  Something I'm looking forward to!
To begin with, we'll be dropping chemo hats off at a NC Cancer Treatment Center near Wake Med Cary.  Wake Med can also use chemo hats in addition to baby items - not to mention items for all other patients.  And for other items that are made for winter warmth, the Raleigh Rescue Mission will gladly accept donations.
As the collection grows, we'll be able to also donate to UNC Hospitals.  UNC Hospitals can use chemo hats, hats for burn victims, preemie / newborn, and all ages after.
There will be no shortage of centers we can shower with blessings.

Gathering Resources

Since the outreach program is only going to be local, I thought to make contact with some nationally known charity organizations to help get the word out to those interested in making donations. 
The first one I approached was Sue Thompson of Head Huggers Organization.  Being a satellite group for Head Huggers, I will be collecting handmade hats for chemo and burn patients, newborns, other patients, and for others in need.  Basically - hats for anyone facing medical or financial issues.
The other organization I contacted was Care Wear.  Bonnie Hagerman gave me the ok to collect and distribute on behalf of Care Wear.  On behalf of Care Wear we will be donating handmade items for patients of all ages - newborns, children, youths, adults, seniors.
Another source I contacted was Bev Qualheim of Bev's Country Cottage.  Bev has a wonderful website loaded with tons of information on anything handmade for charity.
Having these three on our side is a great start in setting up this community outreach program.  Using these resources, we'll be able to reach out and spread blessings to so many people in the community.
Stay tuned to find out the centers I've contacted that would love to receive donations of our handmade blessings.

The Journey Begins

A lot of thought and prayers over a long period of time has resulted in my decision to start a community outreach program.  For years I have been donating my handmade items to a charity that sends them across the US.  It has been overwhelmingly humbling for me to use my talents to help so many others and so far away.  It has given me peace beyond words.
Recently I've had a strong internal urging to share my talents closer to home.  As a member of a small country church, I look around me and wonder if there are others who have the same desire to give back to the community, but aren't sure where to begin.  I pray for guidance, and realize there might be some who would enjoy learning how to make items and bring comfort to those in need.  Maybe my calling is to share my skills with others and teach them how to make what I make.  Maybe the reason I've been given this talent is help plant the seed of the joy of crafting.  If someone learns a new craft, and uses that craft to bring comfort and blessings to others - what an awesome gift that would be.  I want others to experience the same peace that I have found in giving something I've made by hand - from the heart - unconditionally.