Charity Projects - Can you help make a difference in 2010?

I enjoy helping others, especially when I get a chance to sew or embroider something.  Every year I will pick a project where I may lead or assist with a fundraiser, and I also make various quilts, sewn and embroidered items for those in need.    As such, I wanted to post insights on various charity projects that I'm aware of that appreciate volunteers and donations of various items.  Many of these you may already be aware of, and some you may not.  You may also have a project in mind to help others this year, but if you do not, I hope you will consider helping one or more of these projects, or another charity cause.

If you have insights on other charity programs where sewing, quilting and/or embroidery enthusiasts can make a difference by helping, I hope you'll post a comment.  And, if you are a blogger and want to post an article (and hopefully photos) about a quilt, or insights to charity projects that you are involved with, please add the link to your post (not your site) thru the McLinky I have at the bottom of this post.  I thought it might be fun for those interested to share insights and photos on various charity projects that they are involved in. 

ALS
The Hope & Dream Quilt Challenge (http://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/HD/ALS.htm ) to benefit ALS is sponsored by Quilters' Dream Batting.  Goals for this challenge is to:  To raise awareness of ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease, To provide quilts & bring recognition, hope, and warmth to the lives of ALS patients, and to raise funds for research for treatment and a cure.

 ALZHEIMER'S ART QUILT INITIATIVE

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (http://www.alzquilts.org/) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research.  The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a nationally touring exhibit of quilts about alzheimer's.  The AAQI has raised more than $379,000 since January 2006.   There is an active online quilt auction thru January 10th.  You can help AAQI by sharing insights about this auction and/or bidding on one of these beautiful quilts.  Or you can make a little quilt (<=9x12") to donate to a future AAQI auction.  More info can be found at the Liberated Quilters site.

AMERICAN HERO QUILTS

Volunteers help make quilts that are given to injured troops returning from war through a Military hospital.  http://americanheroquilts.com/


AMERICAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING 1 MILLION PILLOWCASE CHALLENGE
Quilters, sewers and crafters are being asked to volunteer to make pillowcases to provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident.  http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/index.html
or email millionpillowcases@meredith.com.

BINKY PATROL
Make blankets to give to children in need of comfort. http://www.binkypatrol.org/


CAMP REACH FOR THE SKY (CR4TS)
Rosies Calico Cupboard Quilt Store is looking for volunteer longarmers and quilters to help make quilts for kids with cancer that attend a free summer camp hosted by American Cancer Society.  Each kid that attends this summer camp receives a quilt.  To volunteer, or for more info contact Rosie Gonzales.    http://www.rosiescalicocupboard.com/                                       http://cr4ts.org/

COME AND SEW MINISTERIES
Volunteers help widows and orphans through various sewing projects. http://www.comeandsew.org/

DOWNEY TOUCH OF COMFORT
The Downy Touch of Comfort program, in partnership with Quilts for Kids, helps provide comforting quilts and a touch of home to hospitalized children.  http://www.downy.com/en-US/helping-kids.jspx  {Please read insights in this post under Quilts For Kids, for more info}.

FIREHOUSE QUILTS
A non-profit group of volunteers that makes and donates snuggle quilts to Colorado fire departments, hospitals, victim advocate offices and & twin size quilts to Battered Women's Shelters to be given to children & their mothers in time of crisis. http://www.firehousequilts.org/

HEARTSTRINGS
The Heartstrings quilt project makes and donates quilts to those in need. 

http://www.ringsurf.com/ring/nr1450/


IT'S A STRING THING CHALLENGE
It's a String Thing Challenge is looking for volunteers to help make string quilts, using a easy  6" paper, to donate to those in need.  http://stringthingchallenge.blogspot.com/  or email Stacey Zabarsky 

KENNEL COMFORTERS
Volunteers help make beds for dogs and cats living in animal shelters.  The theory is that if they have a good night sleep they will have a better chance of getting adopted.  Sounds silly, but I've seen how this makes a difference.  This program is currently located in San Diego County, CA but the model would work in any community.  http://www.kennelcomforters.blogspot.com/

 KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE
While many are aware of the Komen Race For the Cure, you may not know you can help by making scarves that are sold at the November Komen San Diego Race for the Cure in San Diego.  All proceeds benefit Komen.  You can make scarves and send to Komen Race For The Cure, 4699 Murphy Canyon Road, Ste. 207, San Diego, CA 92123 or for more info contact

Sandy Rabourne at 858-573-2760.  http://www.komensandiego.org/

KOMFORT 4 KID PROJECT
Based in Western Australia, they provide handmade blankets to organisations that deal with sick, traumatised or needy children, such as Princess Margaret Hospital, Asetts, the Department for Community Development, Granny Spiers House, Lady Lawley Cottage and Parkerville Children's Home.  http://www.komfort4kidsproject.websyte.com.au/

MAKE-A-WISH
The Make-A-Wish organization frequently finds uses for quilts that can be used at auctions or raffles to raise money, as well as quilts to be given to children. You can contact your local chapter of Make-A-Wish to learn specifics of how you can help.  http://www.wish.org/

MERCY RESPONSE QUILTS
Goal is to provide quilts to those who have lost their belongings in a national disaster.
http://ocquilts.tripod.com/mercyresponse.html

 OPERATION HOMEFRONT
The Operation Homefront focuses on providing help and morale assistance to our troops, the families they leave behind, and wounded warriors when they return home. While the needs vary, there are situations where families need quilts, pillowcases and other items that quilters & sewers can make.  I know of a small group of quilters that create newborn baby baskets (e.g. baby quilt, clothes, diapers) and donate to Operation Homefront so that these baskets are given to women who deliver their babies while their husband is away fighting.  For more info you you may want to contact Operation Homefront directly and find out what is currently needed and how you can help.   info@operationhomefront.net    http://www.operationhomefront.net/needsData.asp   

PAINTED TURTLE (a hold in the Wall Camp)
The Painted Turtle is the sixth addition to Paul Newman’s family of Hole in the Wall Camps for seriously ill children. Each camper bed is covered with a handmade quilt, and each camper returns home with a stuffed turtle pillow and lap quilt or afghan as mementos of their time at The Painted Turtle http://www.thepaintedturtle.org/turtle/

PATRIOTIC PILLOW PROJECT
Provides handmade pillows with a special note to wounded soldiers.  http://patrioticpillowproject.org/

PRAIRIE MOON QUILTS NECKTIE SOCIAL
Beautiful quilts are made using neckties and are donated to fundraisers that benefit various causes.  http://www.prairiemoonquilts.com/Necktie_Social.html


PROJECT LINUS
This well known group has chapters in many communities, all to make quilts for children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”  http://www.projectlinus.org/

QOV 
The mission of the QOV Foundation is to cover ALL those servicemembers and veterans touched by war with Wartime Quilts http://www.qovf.org/  

QUILTS FOR KIDS
Mission is to transform discontinued fabrics into quilts that comfort children in need, including those with cancer, AIDS, & life-threatening illnesses.  http://quiltsforkids.org/ {Please read insights in this post under Downy Touch of Comfort, for more info}.

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE
There are many ways to help various Ronald McDonald Houses, but you best contact them directly to confirm what they need at the current time. Various quilt guilds and American Sewing Guilds have historically helped to make pillowcases and/or quilts for children staying at a Ronald McDonald House. http://rmhc.org/

ROCK FOR THE CURE
Rock For The Cure is dedicated to raising money for organizations that directly fund breast cancer research, awareness, education, support, and prevention in the hope that one day there will be a cure for breast cancer.  This well organized non-profit is based in Indiana.  They hold several fundraising events throughout the year that could benefit from  quilts, knitted or other handmade items.  http://www.rockforthecure.com/index.html

QUILTERS AGAINST CANCER
QAC is a non-profit organization established to financially help women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer with no health insurance. This is an invitation to gather your friends to quilt in support of women in need. The organization’s core is based on fundraising efforts around the donation and auction of quilts and wall hangings http://www.quiltersagainstcancer.com/

QUILTS FOR COMFORT
Quilts are delivered to at-risk babies and young children in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. And because you are never too old for a security blanket, our quilts are also delivered to adult cancer patients and to adults receiving dialysis. http://quiltsforcomfort.com/

RAG DOLLS 2 LOVE, INC
Their goal is to put a soft cloth doll in the hands of children who live in countries ravaged by war, are orphaned or infected by HIV/ AIDS or traumatized by natural disasters. http://www.ragdolls2love.org/

SEWN-N-LOVE
Mission is to demonstrate to cancer patients and their family that they are not alone in the struggle against this dreaded disease. http://www.sewn-n-love.org/


SUTTER MEDICAL CENTER BREAST CANCER QUILT AUCTION
This well run organization holds a quilt auction every three years.  To-date they have raised over $425,000 for cancer related programs.  This auction is based in Sacramento, CA.   If you are interested in donating a quilt, or helping with this event, you can get more info at:  http://suttermedicalcenter.org/quiltauction/about.html

VICTORIAS QUILTS
Donate quilts to to cancer patients and facilities that serve cancer patients. http://www.victoriasquilts.com/



Are you involved in making charity quilts, or other items?  Or do you have a charity that isn't listed that you believe quilting, sewing and/or embroidery enthusiasts could help make a difference by helping?

I hope you will consider writing a post on your blog to share your insights and photos for charity projects you are involved in, or that you want to ask for support from others to help.  And, that you'll come back and post a link to your post (not just your blog) here to inspire others.




If you do post an article on your blog and link back thru my MckLinky, I do hope you'll put a link to this post in your article.  Ideally, those interested in your article may also be interested in reading other articles & viewing photos of charity quilt projects by others.  Maybe we'll end up with a "Charity Quilt Show".  Hymm.  Wouldn't that be fun?