Knit Your Square to Give Your Share - PART 4

f1widow

Dear Chalky, just wanted to pop in quick and say your post made perfect perfect sense.

In recent months I too have felt completely lost over charity donations as we now need to find local - as I don't go out this is still a bit difficult but I hope I now have found a balance. As for Greenfields there was a bit of a "doo dah" over on LH recently as they would now like donations of money with their knitted donations to cover the cost of sending items out to Africa - this was apparently only "suggested" amounts £1 per blanket 50p per hat) but as so many were offended it all got a bit heated and then the chap from Greenfields said maybe LH should not support them anymore etc etc - my knitty friend who I see once a week also took two boxes of around 74 items to our local homeless shelter and asked that we had some feedback to see if it was all ok - we didn't want thanks - just would they like more/less male or female items etc - but until we had enquired about three times over the course of 2 months we heard nothing!

I actually said somewhere in the last few days that I wanted to concentrate more on some personal items.

So Ive whittered about ME and Im sorry but Im right behind you on your thoughts and don't you worry Im sure I speak for everyone you are still so wanted here - it was said this wasn't always about how much you do

We love our Chalky you've given us so much

xxxxxxxxx

f1widow

another quickie I recently had a lovely email from "Kofia" - they want baby hats - sent them a bag full - email said simply thanks for your lovely hats - that made all the difference I knew it got there and they were well received!

roamin_in_the_gloamin

Chalky - and all you other crafters for charity.......... I also feel that if I can do local I will, as well as the free post address (at present only for the seafarers or any other group I can find in the UK) will be just fine by me.
It's astonishing how much I alone have paid out in postage/courier etc just to get things to a place where I sincerely hope they don't sit around gathering dust while awaiting distribution to those who really need them. Oh there is nothing more demoralizing than NEVER HEARING the goods got to where they were intended.
I am currently looking at donating first hand - homeless, womens shelters, special childrens units, care homes etc and the needy local to myself, DS, DWS etc - where it doesn't involve paying someone to deliver to far away places, I can always do bulk deliveries when I am back in the UK.
I will continue to craft away, but I have to say I do have a sweat shop that is calling to me to get a wiggle on and make those sewing machines sing again - regardless of where I end up donating the things to, I also have a good few things on my own TO DO/LEARN THAT list so I shall endeavour to get stuck into some of that this year.
It did take me all the way to December to get around to the knitting machine socks - but I did succeed eventually and am extremely proud of the efforts.
I adore this forum, the lovely peaple who contribute whether that be lots or just the odd pop in now and again, I value the friendship over the miles that I have forged, the encouragement of other like minded folks ................ I am looking forward to a productive year - regardless of what I actually achieve in the grand scheme of things!
Love and cuddles to you all. I did recieve a lovely post card from the Mission to Seafarers thanking me for the hats, nothing yet from Greenfields ( I also understand their need for monitary donations - but I just can't participate in that one).I only have a limited amount of UK dosh and its spend on other things.
xxx
Jean
x

ginnyknit

Its sad isnt it, we all love making pretty and useful things but have no feedback and it costs a mint to send. All except our wonderous Mrs Twins who appreciates all we send and it makes us feel fab. there must be charities out there who get what we are doing? I phoned the salvation army last winter and they didnt want a bag of scarves hats and gloves :mad: I was deeply disappointed but they put me onto a homeless charity down the road who happily accepted them. Im at a loss really, surely its exactly whats needed in these dire times.

Chalky, William will love his quilt, Michael takes his to bed everynight so every stitch was worth it. I did lose my confidence with it at one point but knew he wouldnt care it wasnt perfect so got to grips eventually.

Am making gifts for friends this week for a change but the flu is still clinging on so am not getting very far. Hey ho lots to do, will get there in the end.

Hugs and kind thoughts to all, hope the weather is kind to us though it doesnt sound to good.

anakat

I’m glad this has been brought up; and I agree with Ginny that it is disheartening to get no response when you have put time and effort into a project. With the cost of postage being so expensive I had already decided that I was going to just make things for one charity this year.
I chose http://www.postpals.co.uk/, because I like that you do things for a named child of your choice. I think the cost of posting a knitted toy or small comfort blanket once a month would be within my budget.
The good wishes and support for every poster is lovely here, I know I am not the most prolific of posters, but I do enjoy this forum and feel we all have a lot in common so I do hope it will keep going.



P.S. I’m glad the hedgies kept William warm

mrs-moneypenny

morning all,
i total agree with what everyone is saying.
postal costs and lack of feedback or even acknowledgment that items have arrived is disheartening.
i am also trying to support local causes now as postage is just too much.

i do hope that this means no one will feel they have to leave this thread or stop posting on it as i value everyone on here and would hate to think anyone would go.

massive supporting hugs to all

chalky_75

Last night I was a little bit worried that I may have opened the proverbial " can of worms" and I think everyone knows that is not my style.

I just wanted to say how I was feeling to friends. The same sort of conversation that you would have if we were all meeting for a coffee... I WISH.

I know the goodness,kindness and generosity of this thread to be wonderful. I have benefitted so often.

Sadly the fun we used to have just posting off Geezer Squares, items for a project etc has been undermined by the postage costs. I know everyone feels it especially when we would rather be spending the money on yarn.

Even poor Mrs Twins is having to rethink SIBOL and she has been an inspiration to us all. Personally I hope she is do proud of what the umbrella of her work has achieved.

Really my point was not about this thread just the problems we face finding places to receive our donations.

I too hope this thread continues to go from strength to strength. I would miss you all in my life so much. Perhaps this little coffee time gathering actually allows those that feel the same to chat. Perhaps we could find places that do need things with free postage. Or maybe we could find hospitals that need premmie things and then those of us close enough could do a drop off . Just a thought.

No good for me alas as I think I am the only one in Devon!

2 more monsters sewn last night. Little family on their way back to Dubai this morning... Sigh. End of June seems a long way off just now!

mrs-moneypenny

send hugs and good wishes back with your lovely little family from all of us. does the little hedgie sanctuary near you still take your knitted ones? i know you said they changed owners a while back.

when i take items into the hospital they always seem very well recieved but i have still yet to get the promised patterns or list of needed items they told me they would send.

debtfreefuture

I have been knitting some squares for a few days as I've given up smoking and wanted something to do with my hands.
I thought I'd come on here and find somewhere to send them, but it appears some of you seem to be in the same situation as me - love knitting the squares and posting them off - but not really in a position to make a donation.
I don't know if this helps.............
http://www.knit-a-square.com/

The even have basic patterns for little jumpers etc.
If you pop your address in the envelope the website says they will even acknowledge receipt of the squares/ jumpers

Hope this helps.

Pippa.S

Oh dear what a pickle we all seem to be in...but having said that I am in total agreement with that has been said, and chalky you haven't opened a can of worms I think a lot of us have been thinking along the same lines
We all love this friendly supportive thread and would all miss it if it ended, what an awfully sad thought.
But it wont happen because we will all still do our bit for those in need as we have always done, but it will go direct instead of to a centre to be redistributed, which incur's extra costs all round.

I have been sending to the Mission to Seafarers for a long time now and they always send an acknowledgement, first it was a letter with a photo of sailors in the snow wearing donated hats and scarves, but now they send a postcard, I think next parcel I will put my e'mail in so they can do it that way and save postage. As Jean said it's always nice to receive some form of acknowledgement at least then we know our parcels have arrived.

My friend Jan saw an article in the Birmingham Mail the other night asking for hats and I think scarves for elderly patients at Russells Hall hospital, so I have done one hat and will start another tonight. I will make up a bag and OH and I will pay them a visit...when I have googled to find out where it is...can't be far... but then geography never was my strong point.

I am off to clear my signature now ready for this coming years totals.
keep warm everyone
Sending love 'n'(((hugs))) to all Anne x