Use your crafty powers for good

Volunteers unpacking handmade donations in “The Basement.” Photo courtesy of afghans for Afghans.

Hey, Knitters and Crocheters – afghans for Afghans has a new campaign going, and they urgently need your help.

They’re working with Church World Service to fill 80 cartons with handmade wool blankets and clothing for Afghan children aged 7-14. That’s between 4000 and 6000 items, which will be air-shipped to Kabul. From the afghans for Afghans website:

“Our gifts will be distributed at children’s rehabilitation and health centers in Kabul and Bamiyan. These programs treat children who have been traumatized psychologically and physically by the years of war and poverty. Many have lost loved ones in front of their eyes. The girls and boys benefit from physical recreation, lessons in health and hygiene, nutrition, and social skills such as cooperation and peace-building.”

So, two important things to know:

- The deadline to have your handmades in to the afghans for Afghans headquarters will be late September. Not much time, so get started now!

- And also, in the summer months, afghans for Afghans often finds that donations of wool items taper off – we all know that working with wool isn’t so comfortable in the hot months. But, your donations to this campaign are vitally important, as they will outfit these children for the coming winter. So, can you locate some air-conditioning and get knitting or crocheting?

Visit the afghans for Afghans website for specifics on the kinds of items they need and other guidelines. And, please help spread the word about this effort on your own blog!

For more background on this organization, you can also listen to the podcast interview I did with its founder Ann Rubin and one of its volunteers, Laura Truffault.