Charity – We Do Good and Talk About It

Hello everyone,

every now and then you read in a forum post here and there that some of you are using your crafts to support those in need and bring joy to others selflessly. That’s soooo great, and we should just compile all of that here. Anyone who reads this will feel that we put our heart and soul into it and aren’t just making things for ourselves. We also do a lot of good for the people around us who are happy to receive our creations.

I’d like to ask everyone who uses their crafts to help others to share their stories here. Please, no false modesty! We all need to believe that, even in difficult times, we still see our fellow human beings and their needs, and try to do good for them.

Thank you so much for sharing your efforts with us. Every good deed counts! No deed is too small to be mentioned. Because only together are we a community.

Warm regards, Ina

Thank you, Ina, for this wonderful topic.

@everyone:
Before you begin, please keep the following in mind:
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- Please do not include images that aren't yours.
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I’m currently sewing baby clothes for a maternity hospital in Lutsk, Ukraine. There’s a sew-along for this, where the items are collected and then taken to Ukraine by truck at the end of October.

:)

A good seam every day!

Warm regards,
Sonja

Oh wow, I can contribute quite a bit:

So far, I’ve organized some kind of fundraiser every year.
It started when my dear mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer 8 years ago. Sadly, after 2 years, the illness won....
That was when I really became aware of how good we have it when we’re healthy. So I wound gradient yarn cakes, emptied my yarn cupboards, created pattern subscriptions, and auctioned everything off in my group. The first time, I was able to donate almost €400 to DKMS.
Over the next few years, that more or less became a tradition in my group/on my profile. Each year, more was raised; yarn cake winders, other designers, and lovely people from my group got involved and gave me gradient yarn cakes, patterns, and finished handmade items to auction off. I think the last time it was over €2000. 
Then there was the story of Ben Herrmann, the little boy who needed the injection costing €1.9 million; you’ve surely heard about it (spinal muscular atrophy). There was a lot of media coverage about it, so that year we held the fundraiser for him. I was in touch with little Ben’s grandpa, and he was so endlessly grateful to everyone. Shortly before our campaign ended, the health insurance company approved the injection after all. We raised an incredible €2300, which I then donated to the German Muscle Foundation (who we ultimately help with it doesn’t really matter). 
Then came the flood; for that I created a separate group on Facebook, and anyone who wanted to auction something off had the opportunity there. A great many people really raised large amounts and donated them to the flood victims (we had looked up several addresses/accounts to which the money was then sent). Everyone uploaded their donation receipts; it was truly a wonderful sense of togetherness.
Just recently, within our group, we helped one of my admins; she had gotten into a bit of trouble. Her pony had been sick again and again over the past 3 years and had to have surgery very often, which led to really high vet bills. Then last month came the worst-case scenario: her pony had to have emergency surgery, but unfortunately didn’t make it. As if her grief weren’t already great enough, all the bills started coming in too (over €2000). She herself has been unable to work for years and doesn’t receive much money. So I auctioned off a lot again, was then able to send her €250, and my wonderful group members helped again too, and in the end she just about managed to get the money together. 
A yarn cake winder friend often collects donations for dogs in Bulgaria, and I usually take part in that too.

So there is always someone who needs help and who is worse off than we are. Keep your eyes open; you can top up your karma account somewhere at any time. 

Sorry for the long text
Have a nice weekend - Claudia 

By the way, Ben’s little sister wore a crocheted dress made from my pattern in the Stern-TV report—I was bursting with pride^^
One of my group members is friends with the family and had crocheted it for her... The girl was so happy about it—those are the little things that put a smile on my face :-)

I’ve been sewing as a volunteer for the local children’s food bank for 10 years now. I’ve paid for most of the materials I use myself, but thankfully I keep receiving fabric donations too, so I can sew either children’s clothing or cuddly teddy bears and other cuddly animals for the kids. I get a lot of support from my oldest daughter, and friends also help me with donations of supplies and fabric. Right now, the need among children is so great, so I’m trying to ease it somehow.
I’ve even received support with fabrics here—thank you again for that 😍👏👍. I show a lot of what I sew here.

Best wishes, Inge

and another one finished for the KT; here, fox and owl are saying good night. These two faces are actually included with the backpack, but I didn’t want that. I preferred to embroider the backpack

Best regards, Inge