Valentine's Day Expressions of Love Through Service for Knitters, Crocheters

It is a Valentine's Day tradition to express love with romantic dinners, flowers, cards, and candy. This type of love, Eros, is symbolized by the Roman god Cupid. While Eros or romantic love will continue to thrive on Valentine's Day, it is important to remember another type of love - Agape or brotherly love. A wonderful way to express Agape love is by donating to people in need. There are numerous opportunities for knitters, crocheters, sewers, weavers to demonstrate love by serving others on Valentine's Day as described further.

Care Wear Volunteers, Inc.

Established in Maryland in 1991, Care Wear accepts knitted and crocheted apparel, blankets, and toys for preemies and other hospitalized infants nationwide. This charity's website provides patterns for making the baby items and furnishes listings and links to the children's organizations and hospitals that are served in each state.

Guideposts Knit for Kids

This global organization, that partners with Feed the Children and World Vision, began in 1996 in Carmel, NY collecting donated knit and crochet sweaters for children in refuge camps. Presently Knit for Kids has donated over 340,000 handcrafted sweaters to children in need worldwide.

Hat Box Foundation, Inc.

Founded in 2007 in Irvine, California, this nonprofit organization focuses on cancer and other seriously ill patients. This year, Hat Box Foundation began its "Think Pink" campaign where handcrafted, pink hats will be collected and donated to breast cancer patients.

Project Linus

With nationwide locations, Project Linus accepts crochet, knit, weave, and quilt blankets to children who have experienced extreme trauma or are enduring serious illnesses. Its website provides blanket and quilt patterns.

Stitches from the Heart

Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the nonprofit organization Stitches from the Heart accepts knitted and crocheted hats, sweaters, blankets, and booties for babies who are premature or in need at over 168 hospitals and charities nationwide.

Warm Up America

Warm Up America is a nationwide project established in 1991 where needle workers create afghan blankets for Americans in need. Using any worsted weight yarn and a pattern from Michaels Craft Store's or The Crafty Yarn Council's website, each volunteer stitches together a seven inch by nine inch rectangle that she drops off at a local Michaels Craft Store collection bin. The rectangles are then joined to create a 49-inch x 63-inch full afghan blanket composed of 49 rectangles. Warm Up America volunteers also knit and crochet baby caps and other items.

By donating handcrafted items to these nonprofit organizations, individuals are making a huge impact on the lives of people all around the world. For knitters and crocheters who are not yet donating their creative talents to people in need, Valentine's Day - the time of love - is a perfect time to begin.

Sources

"Care Wear Volunteers, Inc."Care Wear Volunteers, Inc.

"Guideposts Knit for Kids."Guideposts Knit for Kids .

"Hat Box Foundation, Inc."Hat Box Foundation, Inc.

"Project Linus." Project Linus.

"Stitches from the Heart."Stitches from the Heart.

"Warm Up America." The Crafty Yarn Council.