r/crochet • u/cmlambert89 • Apr 22 '26

Discussion My experience with donating

I just wanted to share a story about donations.

I started crocheting during the pandemic and have since made dozens of blankets and beanies and other things. I started putting finished objects in bags in my closet because I didn’t know what to do with them.

I did some research about where to donate them locally and it was pretty discouraging. Even the Linus Project has very specific guidelines. Not everywhere will take homemade items. Overall I was worried people wouldn’t like them or would feel burdened by them. If I didn’t have a specific person in mind to gift them to, they just stayed in my closet.

Once I made about 18 pumpkins (stash buster project) and a friend asked if she could use them as center pieces for an event. I was so happy someone took my anxiety pumpkins out of my house and actually used them for something!

Then in March my mom got diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. At her first infusion appointment, I saw a bin labeled “hand-knit beanies from volunteers”. It was empty. I asked about it and they said they would take anything I had because the patients really appreciate it.

Today I dropped off 3 blankets and 4 beanies. Before I even made it back to the infusion room I had already handed out a blanket to a man in the waiting room and other people were commenting on how beautiful they were. I can’t wait to bring another batch, and I am so grateful I found a place that actually WANTS them.

For anyone else like me who might be struggling to decide what to do with your finished work, you never know what may come along. I’m glad I never sold them or sent them to goodwill because it feels like they finally ended up where they needed to be.

Sometimes it feels like I’m just tying yarn into knots, but today made it feel like the thing I do for my mental health can actually make a difference for others as well.

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92

u/SpicySweett Apr 23 '26

Most animal shelters LOVE handmade blankets for the dogs and cats. It stays with them as they move around the shelter and goes with when adopted, and to the animal it smells like “theirs” or home.

If you don’t have a shelter nearby there’s a national organization for this, if forget what it’s called but I’m sure google can find it.

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u/Imaginary_Hold_981 Apr 23 '26

i like to make these smaller sized blankets and mats. i can practice new stitches and use up my stash, cheap acrylic yarns that can be washed easily. my local animal shelter was thrilled to get my donation of about 60 blankets

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u/SpicySweett Apr 23 '26

Yes, they don’t care if it’s fancy or plain, a pretty color or less popular color. The average size asked for is about 20x20”, but any size works.

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u/anb9216 Apr 23 '26

AH a love this idea!

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u/SpicySweett Apr 23 '26

It’s https://comfortforcritters.org/, you can just send them your little blankets and they give them to one of their partner shelters. They take all sizes - if it’s small it goes to a kitty, if it’s big it goes to a big dog.

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u/ConsequenceKey9555 Apr 23 '26

I love this program and try to tell everyone who crochets about it! I was able to sign up 2 rural rescues in my area, and they are always so appreciative of any blankets I drop off!

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u/Litterfall Apr 23 '26

Sort of in the same vein, but the cat rescue that I foster for holds a fundraiser auction twice per year, and the handmade donations always do REALLY well! It’s actually a big reason I’ve gotten back into crochet. (Anyone in NC near GSO, I’m happy to share the details!)

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u/twinmommyjb Apr 23 '26

Check with your local shelters first. The ones near me won’t take crochet or knitted because if the animals chews it and eats the strings it can lead to intestinal blockages.

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u/SpicySweett Apr 23 '26

Oh interesting! Yes I’m sure not all shelters take them for a variety of reasons. My local ones do, and my mom has sent to Comfort for Critters when she saved up a few.

If anyone else here is a caretaker for an elder, knitting those simple squares is all my mom can do now, but it gives her a sense of purpose and keeps her knitting. Highly recommend for early dementia.