Crafting for Charitable Causes

Posted by allnaturalme in Saturday, July 26th 2008 under: Uncategorized

Good 4 Girls is a great organization to get involved with. Their goal is to help girls in Africa gain access to better menstrual protection. It’s something that we take for granted, but in areas of extreme poverty, they resort to using rags or newspaper for their menstrual needs. A lot of girls miss school during their cycle. And for crying out loud, it’s 2008, no one should have to bleed on newspaper. Donations of disposable sanitary napkins is NOT a good option because it creates the additional burden of waste disposal.

Good4Girls.org is seeking donations of reusable cloth menstrual pads. Whether you can sew or not, you can still donate to this cause to help keep girls in school and make moon time much more enjoyable for a fellow human being.

More Charitable Organizations for Crafty Folks

If you can sew, or knit, or crochet - there are lots of good causes to donate your time and talent. Here are some great organizations and initiatives to look into:

afghans for afghans
binky patrol
blankets for canada
carewear
chemocaps
crafters for critters
cubs for kids
cuddles for newborns
head huggers
mother bear project
peace fleece
project linus
rehumanizing quilt
sewing charity
snuggles
touching little lives
warm hearts warm babies
warm up america
wool works

Thanks to craftivism.com for all those great resources above!

Another charitable cause is Warming Families.org, a website to make stuff for homeless families - blankets, hats, scarves, mittens. Summer is the time to start crafting for those who will be cold this winter.

Think Local!

Senior centers and homes for elderly or disabled people would also be a great place to donate your goods along with low income programs like WIC, Salvation Army and your local Red Cross.

Know of any more? Please list additional charitable crafts in the comments and use the Share This button below to spread the word to all the crafty folk you know!

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9 Comments Already

MamaTaney Said,

July 26th, 2008 @9:21 pm

Thanks so much for posting this!! Makes me start feeling the itch to be all crafty again. Hmm .. that sewing machine IS starting to look too dusty.

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Sam Said,

July 28th, 2008 @2:43 am

There’s an Always commercial about the girls in Africa that have to miss school because of their period. It makes me sad everytime I see it. It’s such a ridiculous reason to have to miss school. You’re right Sadie, no one should have to bleed on newspaper! If I was crafty I would definitely make some pads. Maybe this will help inspire me to use that sewing machine that is more like a decoration in my apartment. hehe.

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MamaTaney reply on July 28, 2008:

Just thinking about the girls having to miss school because of their periods. Honestly, that is a horrible thing, no one should be forced to miss out on an education because of something that happens naturally - it makes me wonder what women in Africa (or other 3rd world countries) have been doing for centuries, since having a period is certainly NOT a new concept. What were their original habits regarding this, how did their society traditionally deal with menstruation and menstruating women?
I’ve always thought though that we as women ought to be allowed some “down time” during our period. Personally, I never want to be around anyone really. We certainly don’t give our bodies (and what our bodies go through) the appreciation and attention they deserve. We are usually so more caught up in trying to bind and control our bodies rather than let them be and do what they were meant to be and do.

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Sam reply on July 28, 2008:

Haha, I know that so well. I don’t want to be bothered at all during that time of the month. I’m all for having some downtime while having my period.

I’m sure a lot of older cultures alienated women during their period. Women weren’t allowed to do anything that’s a little “off.” But I’m think they used any kind of rag they could find for the bleeding.

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MamaTaney reply on July 28, 2008:

It’s a shame then, to some extent, don’t you think that these people aren’t being helped by being given, or taught, the things they need so that they may be idiginous, keeping the ways of their ancestors alive, and also sustainable for future generations?
Don’t get me wrong, the charity is a great idea and wonderful intention, but isn’t it just, to some extent, band-aiding the problem??
When cultures and societies ignore the ways of their ancestors to the degree that all that time-gathered knowledge is lost, and when they begin importing the vast majority of their needs (though I am not necessarily saying that is what is going on here), haven’t they just inherently set themselves up for a gigantic collapse?

Sam reply on July 30, 2008:

That’s a good point, but giving them handmade pads is really the only way we can help. We can’t preach to them on how to live or even treat their women. It would be nice, but it seems that when our country tries to step in and tell another country how to live, it just makes it worse. I wish everyone was just open minded and realized what they’re doing to themselves or others. No one seems to care anymore. For right now we can do our best by sending reusable pads, food, clean water, missionaries, etc.

MamaTaney reply on July 30, 2008:

You’re right Sam. And helping others IS VERY important.
I could totally (and kinda have I suppose) get on my soapbox here about the need to respect idigenous cultures, but we can’t FORCE anyone to think anything.
And so you’re right, the focus should remain on helping others. No woman should be forced to use newspaper during her menstrual period. No one should be put in a situationg where something naturally occuring, and especially regularly occuring, with their bodies to be forced to miss school or work.

Sam Said,

August 1st, 2008 @12:47 am

These are great charities. I think I’m going to get back in to crocheting, and crochet some scarves or blankets for some of these charities. Does any one know of any charities that want handmade bags? I have a couple that I’ve sewed, but I never use them.