12 Ways You Can Support Charities Without Donating Money

Regular readers might remember our post about helping penguins victimized by the Tauranga oil spill in New Zealand by knitting tiny sweaters. While we had a lot of interest in the article and the cause, it was only up a short time before a representative from the charity commented that they had received enough sweaters for all the needy penguins.

For all those flossers who still want to lend a hand, but don’t have the extra finances to donate cash to a worthy cause, there are plenty of others in need of your non-monetary support.

1. Little Hen Rescue

If you already bought all of your penguin sweater knitting supplies only to find out the birds were taken care of, don’t worry, other birds still need your help. The Little Hen Rescue is a UK charity dedicated to rescuing abandoned and abused chickens, many of which have lost their feathers due to stress and abuse. That’s where the need for chicken jumpers comes in. A pattern can be found on their site, along with the charity’s mailing address for your completed project.

Non-knitters can also get in on the fun with this one, as the group also provides a sewing pattern for fleece jumpers. No word yet on which one the hens prefer.

2. Leggings For Life

The group, which helps a variety of different species, seems to aid creatures on a case by case basis, so patterns are presumably sent to volunteers as needed. They only maintain a small pool of volunteers at a time; right now they need a limited number of volunteers who are willing to ship their contributions out of the country. If you’d like to help, you can add the group on Facebook or email LeggingsForLife@att.net with the subject line “crocheter” or “sewer” and ask if they need any additional volunteers at this time.

3. The Snuggles Project

4. Coats For Cubs

5. Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation

For those who prefer to help mankind, Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation (FoPRR) is a great place to start. This group is dedicated to helping shelters, clinics and other groups on the Pine Ridge Reservation of Sioux Native Americans. FoPRR is always looking for knitted, crocheted, and other sewn items for the people on the reservation; they are in particular need of clothing, toys, and duffel bags for the foster care children there.

6. Afghans for Afghans

It’s sadly ironic that many people of Afghanistan are in desperate need of the warmth provided by the very blankets that bear their name, but it’s the truth.

Afghans for Afghans

provides blankets and warm clothing to the people of Afghanistan who have been victimized by the turmoil of their country. Patterns, a mailing address, and more details can be found at their site.

7. The Painted Turtle

8. Chemocaps

If you’ve known someone who has gone through chemotherapy, you know just how upsetting the hair loss caused by the treatment can be. Chemocaps provides patients with hand-knitted head covers that not only provide warmth and comfort, but also remind cancer victims that they are not alone in their fight. Patterns and mailing addresses can be found at the group’s website.

9. Stitches From the Heart

10. Project Linus

11. Nike Reuse-a-Shoe

12. Locks of Love and Wigs for Kids

Even More Ways to Help

If you prefer to act a little closer to home, there are always people that will need your help no matter where you live. You can knit clothing or blankets for your local homeless shelter (or give them to the people on the streets directly). You can donate blood to your local Red Cross. Lastly, you can always donate your time to a local charity in your area.

There are tons of noble non-profits out there and we’ve only scratched the surface here. That being said, if any of you Flossers happen to know any other worthy causes that can benefit from non-monetary support, feel free to leave more details in the comments.

For all you altruistic readers who intend to help one or more of these great charities, thank you for your generosity. The world could certainly use more people like you.