Volunteers Needed For Memorial Day Event at TAPS.org

You can make a difference this Memorial Day Weekend.

Knitters and Crocheters Care is seeking volunteers to teach knitting and Crocheting at the TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) annual Memorial Day program. We will need volunteers for shifts from 9 am - 5 pm on Friday, May 28; Saturday, May 29; and Sunday, May 30. We need to get quite a few volunteers in a pretty short period of time - so please pass this along to your friends and group members - to all knitters and crocheters who might be interested!

This year the the Memorial Day event will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia 22202. The amazing people at TAPS have asked Knitters and Crocheters Care to discuss the therapeutic benefits of knitting and crochet. We have also been asked to teach crochet/knitting from the point of view of a healing hands type of craft and from a community building perspective.

Knitters and Crocheters Care is seeking volunteer knit and/or crochet teachers who would like to teach garter stitch (knitting lesson) or single crochet (crochet lesson) for two hours or more at these sessions. Kits will be provided by Knitters and Crocheters Care.

If you’re interested in teaching email claireleah@yahoo.com

TAPS (http://www.taps.org) provides a wide variety of programs and information to survivors, military and casualty personnel and others. Each Memorial Day weekend, all those affected by a death in the line of military duty are invited to attend workshops over three days: sharing, coping, and healing with some of America’s leading experts on trauma and grief.

Oh my - it's been soooo long since we posted in here! We've become too dependent on Ravelry and Twitter and we've neglected this poor blog.

I wanted you to know that Knitters and Crocheters Care is once again attending the Homespun Yarn Party! We had a blast last year, so we're very excited to again be involved with this wonderful event. Here's the information you need to find us: Where: Historic Savage Mill 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763 Just off I-95, plenty of parking! When: Sunday, March 21, 2010 - 12 PM to 5 PM

At Knitters and Crocheters Care we believe every hand-knit and crocheted item is needed by a charitable organization and we pride ourselves on being able to find a home for anything you can knit or crochet. Therefore, at the Homespun Yarn Party, we will gladly accept any knit/crochet charity item you would like to donate.

We are currently conducting a scarf drive for the adults and children served by TAPS. So, please stop by with brightly colored, red/white/blue or camo colored scarves for this project. TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) works with people who have lost someone in active military service. You can check them out here: http://www.taps.org

Did I forget to mention there will be prizes? Everyone who drops off a charity item at the Knitters and Crocheters Cares booth will receive a raffle ticket. We will be announcing prizes throughout the day. You have to be present to win!

Hope to see you there!

From Michelle Knitter: 

Whatever you like to knit or crochet, there is a charity that can use the items. Some ideas:

Warm things: hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, fingerless gloves, afghans, lap robes, sweaters, vests, shawls, socks

Baby things: preemie to baby size hats, blankets, sweaters, socks, mittens

Squares that can be put together into items above

Toys for kids or pets

Snuggles for pets in shelters

We have yarn to give away for charity work. Please contact us at knitters.and.crocheters.care@gmail.com

Wow - It sure has been a long time since we updated this blog. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out which email address and password I used to set this up -- my bad :)

A lot has happened since February - and we've been posting about all our donations and events on Ravelry - so - I won't bury you here today. I hope to post more regularly - and I'll include information about what we've been doing for the last six months in future updates!

This past weekend Tammy and I went down to Chesapeake, VA to meet Sherry, the owner of Coordinated Colors Yarn Shoppe http://www.coordinatedcolors.com/ to pick up a whole slew of charity yarn!

Sherry posted on Ravelry that she had yarn she wanted to donate for charitable purposes. I contacted her right away abd she told me, if we drove down there, we could take back as much yarn as we could carry! So - Tammy and I planned a road trip.

We net Sherry at her house - and she and her husband sorted their yarn (some for the store, some for her and some for Knitters and Crocheters Care). We got so much yarn from her at her house (we filled a whole SUV) - we couldn't fit more yarn from her warehouse! We got home after dark, so we were not able to take a pic of all the wonderful yarn - but I know I filled between 8 and 10 clear leaf bags with yarn and tucked it way in my shed!!

I brought a big bag of yarn to charity knitting at the Packard Center yesterday (Tuesday) and after the ooos and aaaas - people grabbed yarn for their charity projects. We'll post in here as people finish their projects.

Thanks Sherry! Sherry and Coordinated Colors Yarn Shoppe totally rock!

Knitters and Crocheters Care is attending the Homespun Yarn Party - hope you can join us there!

Sunday, March 15, 2009
Second Annual Homespun Yarn Party! March 15, 2009
We had a great time last year - this year will be bigger and better!

What: Yarn Party! Check out local yarn vendors, sit and knit, meet new people!

Who: All your favorite local yarn dyers and spinners, plus some extra crafty goodness! And all our knitting/crocheting/spinning friends (you!) of course!!

Where: Historic Savage Mill |8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763 | Just off I-95, plenty of parking!

When: Sunday, March 15, 2009 - 12 PM to 4 PM (watch the blog - hours may be extended)

Why: Who needs an excuse to get together and craft?! We wanted to get together and spread some fiber love!

In addition to some great crafty vendors, we'll also have:
free lessons on knitting, crochet, spinning, and maybe more
fabulous door prizes to be given away throughout the event
crafty goody bags for participants (while supplies last)
weather-permitting, a sit and spin/crochet/knit area out on the deck
And we'll be collecting knitted and crocheted items for local charities!

http://homespunyarnparty.blogspot.com/2009/02/second-annual-homespun-yarn-party-march.html

Summer Charity Events

Join Knitters & Crocheters Care for charity knitting & crocheting night at Aylin’s Woolgatherer on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 pm (entry at right) May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21 and September 1

and

Charity Day at Uniquities on the 4th Saturday of every month from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm (entry at right) May 24, June 28, July 26, August 23 and September 27

Charities in need of donations:

TAPS – Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors - a support network for the families of those who died in military service. We are collecting knit/crocheted stuffed animals and memory pillows. http://www.taps.org

ALTERNATIVE HOUSE - supports at-risk children, youth and families, provides crisis intervention and neighborhood outreach. We are collecting baby/toddler clothes and blankets. http://www.thealternativehouse.org

CAPITAL HOSPICE - providing hospice care to DC, NoVa and Prince George's county, MD. We are collecting chemo caps for this organization. http://www.capitalhospice.org

FAIRFAX HOSPITAL Women's Center - provides suport and health services to new mothers and their families. We are collecting preemie and baby hats and blankets for this organization. http://www.inova.org/inova_fairfax_hospital/services/

Can't join us? You can drop off finished items at either of the shops, clearly labeled with the charity's name, and we’ll deliver them. Enclose a stamped, self address envelope if you want confirmation of your donation.

Thanks for the donations!

Your yarn has gone to N Street Village in DC, groups that teach kids to knit, Iraqi refugees, Georgetown University Hospital Lombardi Center and groups that knit for the DC homeless.

Local crafters have donated items for the clients of Food & Friends (DC), Alternative House (VA) and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (VA).

Now that spring is here, we will turn our attention to the 14th Annual
TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar & Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors, held Memorial Day weekend in Virginia. Last year Claire offered Memory Pillows to participants. Please help us support these families who have lost a loved one in military service.

Details will be posted here shortly. Please contact us at Knitters.and.Crocheters.care@gmail.com for more inforamtion.