Hello to Everyone out there who is interested in Giving Back in some way:
I have been doing some research to try to find us at Weavolution a charity we can help and support.
Our Mission...
1. Provide handwoven articles to help people in need (local, global, etc)
2. Provide financial support to communities in need
To that end I have some suggestions. I need your input so that we can move forward.
I have found 2 global charities that we can help with our handwoven items: (Please let me know which on you prefer.)
A. SILENT WITNESS-
Silent Witness honors the lives of Sheila and Paul Wellstone and the great work they did in domestic violence awareness and prevention (before they and one of their daughters were killed in a plane crash in 2002). They ask fiber artists to create and gift healing shawls and scarves to family and friends of those who lose their lives in domestic violence, and for those who survive.
They welcome shawls and scarves created with healing thoughts and kind intentions, whether they be knitted, crocheted, hand-sewn or woven. The idea and intent is to let healing energies and good will flow from your heart through your hands into what you create, so those who receive one of Sheila’s Shawls or Paul’s Scarves will feel the comfort of kindness and concern.
They have a worldwide network of organizations that we could deliver or mail our finished items to who will distribute them to people in need of comfort.
1.) Sheila's Shawls -- has provided over 475 shawls (24x60 ) to women who have lost sister, mothers or daughters to domestic violence.
2.) Paul's Scarves - has provided scarves (6.5x46) to men who have lost loved ones as a result of domestic violence.
Global Knit is a new (Nov. 2009) nonprofit organization that connects knitters and crocheters at home with needy and at-risk children throughout the globe. Their mission is to make sure children in cold places have what they need to stay warm. They are working to help disabled youth in orphanages and institutions in Bulgaria and are providing relief supplies in Haiti. They collect and distribute the items and ask for financial support in doing this.
2. WARP - Weaving a Real Peace helps communities of weavers throughout the world
It is my suggestion that we as weavers join WARP - Weaving a Real Peace. It was started in 1992 by well-known weaver Deborah Chandler and has accomplished many wonderful things for weavers throughout the world. We have a group here on Weavolution at this link. The WARP website is http://www.weavearealpeace.org/ Individual membership is $35.
ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Suzy
Afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan. They also accept woven blankets and shawls (no scarves). Everything must be wool or other animal fibers (such as mohair and alpaca) and wool blends that offer the most warmth and durability in harsh conditions. Their website is www.afghansforafghans.org
I've sent knitted socks and hats to them for more than 5 years -- it's an amazing organization.
Hi Suzy,
I like the idea of Sheila's shawls and Paul's scarves. It seems easy enough to me, that when I next weave a scarf or shawl I could add extra yardage and make a second shawl/scarf for donation. Any feedback online on these two groups? Have they been around for a while? Are they mostly US?
Thanks for all the work you have done to research this topic and keep this thread alive on Weavolution.
Claudia
Hi Judy...
Judy, your years of support to Afghans for Afghans (A4A ) are so impressive. We just need to find the perfect fit for the entire group at Weavolution. It doesn't mean that each of us can't continue to support the wonderful charities that we've all supported in the past. Hopefully, some others here on Weavolution will join you in supporting of Afghans for Afghan. You sound like a great resource for this involvement!
Yes... I did research Afghans for Afghans (A4A) as well. It sounds like an absolutely wonderful group who has done amazing work for years. Unfortunately, I have 3 concerns about Weavolution as a group working with them: 1. the distribution, 2. the type of items needed and 3. that they work with only one country.
1 Our weavers would have to be responsible for getting their own work to the organization as you have for 5 years (that's fantastic!) As a group here at Weavolution, it would be unwieldy for us to collect work... and then mail it to A4A as a group.
2. A4A seems to favor items that are knit or crochet. Weavers can of course create more than afghans, but the stretchability of knit and crochet items like socks, mittens and hats lend themselves more to knitting and crochet. Afghans are a possibility and sweaters that are handwoven, but they take more of a commitment on the part of the weaver.
3. A4A works with the needy people of Afghanistan, who are very, very worthy of help, but it is only one country -- not a global outreach.
This is why I favor Silent Witness:
1. Silent Witness' distribution network includes most states (even Alaska) as well as sites in Australia, Mexico, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Guam. See them all at this site. There is also something very powerful about sending warm and uplifting thoughts through your weaving to nurture and comfort someone who is trying to heal from such pain.
2.We can easily add additional warp onto a shawl or scarf project to create something to wrap our supportive thoughts around a family member or survivor to help them, so this project is weaver-friendly.
3. It is an organization that has a global outreach helping people with a global problem. - domestic violence. If we ourselves have not been affected, we know or hear of people in our own communities who have been affected.
If you are also a Ravelry member you can learn more about them through their group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/sheilas-shawls--pauls-scarves and/or
join their Yahoo group... at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SheilasShawls/
Thank you so much for your note!
Suzy
I like the idea of Silent Witness also. I have been supporting battered women's shelters for years, and this seems like a natural extension.
Thanks so much for your response. I'm a bit discouraged that more people aren't letting us know their thoughts.
Thanks so much for your response. I'm a bit discouraged that more people aren't letting us know their thoughts.
I have been wondering something. The call for help from Haiti was loud and clear and people's reaction was to send durable items, like clothes and bedding. Then, organizers said, no, we need your money. Let us make the choices based on need and if you want to do something for Haitians, send money.
Are people reluctant to join this effort thinking they will be rebuffed in the same way?
The charities Suzy has found are asking specifically for shawls and scarves. I, for one, am thrilled to help and thrilled to know there is a group doing this work. And the fact that they are International is so much sweeter.
Well done, Suzy. Count me in. I'm warping the loom on Friday and hope to have at least one scarf done this weekend.
Thanks for your hard work on behalf of the members of Weavolution. I hope people will find this post and join the effort. How about putting the information about Silent Witness, Sheila's Shawls and Paul's scarves in the Weaving forum where everyone is more likely to see it?
Claudia
Claudia...
You make my heart sing! Let's DO THIS! I am about to put on a warp for a jacket... but after that -- I, too will produce a shawl or scarf for Silent Witness.
I do think in the case of a natural disaster like the Haitian earthquakes... money is best for donations because they can purchase the goods and services they need the most. But Silent Witness' goal is to wrap people who have been devastated by domestic violence in the warm glow that our handwoven items can provide. What a perfect way for us as weavers to reach out to victims & their families in a way that perfectly fits our talents!
I think we should put the information wherever the most will see it! It's been interesting to see what organizations are out there helping people and trying to find a good fit for us.
:) Suzy
I've got a warp on my loom for Silent Witness as well - in purple in honour of today, which is Family Violence Awareness Day here (people are wearing purple to call attention to Family Violence). I'm really hoping to have the time to blog about my scarf today and to encourage others in my ProjectFebruary posse to join in as well, but it may have to wait until Monday given my time constraints.
I do have a question before I blog about it, though: Suzy, I know you said that Silent Witness is international with distribution centres in Canada and other countries but I haven't found any indication of that on their website. I'm looking at their database of coordinators and there's nothing outside the States, plus it's referred to as the "Silent Witness National Initiative" on their home page. Am I just missing the address of the Canadian distribution point? Is there a page with international locations that I haven't found?
Many of my PF group are in Canada, England & Scotland. If Silent Witness IS a US-only initiative, where does that leave us non-US weavers who want to participate? I'm thinking we should suggest that they donate to their local family violence prevention programs, or shelters, or similar. I think I'll send mine to Transition House, a local shelter/safe house for battered women, if it turns out that there's no Canadian distribution point for SW. Or maybe we can start one?
- Janet
Janet --
FANTASTIC! Thank you so much for your support and the information about the use of purple.
If you look carefully through the Silent Witness website you will see their Silent Witness Directory of State Coordinators and Exhibits --- I mentioned it in my former post but it's easy to skim over. You can find it here: http://www.silentwitness.net/cgi-script/csDirectory/csDirectory.cgi Unfortunately, the website has not been updated in quite some time... that is why I contacted Renee Youngberg, the Sheila Shawl National Coordinator directly via email. She also communicates via a YahooGroup and Ravelry... and maybe now, Weavolution, with people interested in finding shelters and programs worldwide.
In looking for a charity for Weavolution, I wanted to make sure that it was international. We can certainly send our handwoven items to groups we know of locally who represent helping victims of domestic violence (since it looks like that will be our adopted charity theme) and/or use the Sheila's Shawl network. I will pass your note on to the coordinator Renee, who I contacted to see if we would be a good fit. Here is part of what she wrote to me:
"We continue to collect and donate shawls and Scarves world wide. As a matter of fact I have a letter from Africa just this year. So we continue to move ahead and participate through out the world. We are listed in Several knitting books Knitting for Peace by Betty Christensen and Knit it Together by Suzyn Jackson. We would love to work in conjuction with you. We have a state coordinator in Georgia who would be able to give you numbers and statistics of people that she works with that could use shawls and scarves. I have asked her if I can share her email address with you. I am waiting to here back. I would love to work with your group This sounds like a wonderful opportunity.
Blessings,
Renee"
I hope this answers some of your concerns.
:) Suzy
Suzy:
I did see that list and read through it a couple of times but was filtering out the exhibits and looking only at the coordinators, as the Paul's Scarves page specifically said to contact a coordinator with donations. There are no coordinators outside the US, hence my question. There are several exhibits in other countries - including one in NB, Canada - but I'm not sure what their function is and whether they have anything to do with the shawl and scarf donations. Hopefully Renee can clarify what people outside the country should do with our donations. They'll make it into the hands of someone who can use the scarf itself or the support it represents regardless. :)
- Janet
I like the Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves charity, too. It just seems accessible. After my present weaving project of place mats in rep weave, I'll put a scarf or shawl warp on with intention of donating a shawl. Mine will be of hand spun yarn because YOU SHOULD SEE MY STASH OF HAND SPUN YARNS!!!
Aunt Janet
Oh Aunt Jane..
How wonderful! I, too, have taken the pledge to create a shawl once this warp is off the loom to donate to our local Domestic Violence shelter. Does anyone else want to take the pledge?
Please, please, please take the time to take a photo or photos of your loving creation before you take it to your DV shelter or give it to a victim or a family member. AND please keep track of where, when and to whom you gave it. We'll keep a tally of our donations and give it to Sheila's Shawls and Paul's Scarves so that they can document the gifts.
Again THANK YOU!
Suzy
