Waterwoman Knits

Nonprofit Fundraisers

Over the years, I have contributed my knitting to various nonprofits, and I can think of no better use of the skill, making a win-win of self-healing with healing for others. I describe a few here in case they inspire anyone else to do something similar.

• Jazz Hats: For my child’s high school jazz band trek to another state for competition, I made 25 colorful hats and offered them at a music event to contribute several hundred to the group’s GoFundMe.
• Prayer or Comfort Wraps: I found myself in the nondenominational children’s hospital chapel at low points. Seeing a plush, red scarf someone had hand-knit in a bowl in the chapel felt like the biggest comfort I could have received in a certain moment. The chaplain of the hospital, who was herself learning to knit at the time, gifted me a bunch of yarn she picked up at a store so that I could make anonymous wraps for others, which I did.
• Hugs Through Shrugs: A woman who founded this East Coast nonprofit reached out to me a few years ago, and several women in my local community knit together and collected shawls to take to moms at the Seattle Ronald McDonald House where my family had lived for over a year. A yarn store owner even donated quality yarn to the cause.
• Planting Trees and Building Community in Senegal: I was fortunate to meet Dr. Ousmane Pame, the director of REDES Ecovillages through a network we are both members of called Bright Future Now. In reflecting on a way I might contribute remotely, I contacted a Maori knitwear designer who gave me permission to raffle off a shawl made from her copyrighted pattern as a fundraiser because it supported other indigenous peoples’ efforts. I was able to raise several hundred dollars thanks to those who contributed in the raffle drawing.

Fundraisers I am Scheming

For Every Star, a Tree: I would like to support Billimarie’s efforts by making monarch butterfly hats for their butterfly sanctuary from Nancy Bates’ Monarchs of the Central Coast pattern I purchased. If anyone else is interested, please contact me, as there is only so much two fully employed hands can make. Long before, but especially during the chaos of LA wildfires, her vision is inspiring to me.

South Whidbey School Farms: I would like to host a knit raffle for the funding partner of this local effort to impact 100+ children’s lives that allows engagement with the natural world and the magic of planting and watching their own food grow.