Craft Hope Project 8

By now, we all know about the devastation caused by the Gulf Coast oil spill. Personally, I've wandered what I could do to help and have come up with nothing. Luckily for me, the wonderful people at Craft Hope are partnering with The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies to assist them in their efforts in caring for and cleaning oiled marine mammals, mostly dolphins and sea turtles. This will be Project 8.

Craft Hope's Project 8 will be collecting handmade washcloths and hand towels for use in cleaning all of the dolphins and sea turtles. These will be thrown away after a few uses, so there is absolutely no need to worry about how they look.

If you can sew, knit, or crochet, then you can do this. They are asking that you create sets of hand towels and/or wash rags to send. Preferably in sets of 10 or 20.

Since they are called "Craft Hope", they do require that they be handmade, however, several people have asked about simply cutting up old towels and t-shirts to send. They said this is okay! Also, someone mentioned not being a sewer and wanted to do the cloths where you tie the edges with knots, like you can do for the no-sew fleece blankets. Craft Hope says this is good, too! So if you're not a crafter, please don't let this stop you!

Craft Hope says this is also a great opportunity to get kids involved. It’s a wonderful way to teach them about our beaches and the fragile marine life. Perhaps they can help you cut up the fabric? It's never too early to teach them about doing what they can to help save the environment, don't you think?

The project deadline is July 3rd, so you still have plenty of time to join in! I think I will get started tonight so I can get as many sets of 10 made up as possible.

If you want to join in with me for this wonderful project, go here.

You can send your handmade towels and wash rags to:

Kimberly Davion
c/o IMMS Oil Spill Relief
1700 East La Rua Street
Pensacola, Florida 32501
USA

They also said that if you'd like, include a bottle of Dawn dishwashing soap, as this is the soap they use to cut through the oil on the animals.

Don't you just love this project? It's so easy, and yet so rewarding. We can really make a big difference if we all step up to help with this! Please let me know if you intend to help!

I will love you forever if you help!! {Okay, I will anyway, but do it anyway--even you non-crafty peeps!}

What Are You Doing Wednesday

photo from kindovermatter.com

If you've been keeping up with the blog, you already know that I have recently really felt that God was telling me to use the gifts and talents he has given me to help the less fortunate. I have been ABUNDANTLY blessed in so many ways. While I'm by no means "wealthy" or "rich", my husband and I live comfortably and don't have to worry about whether or not we can pay the bills. I have also been blessed with my creative abilities. Without Him, I would have and be nothing.

So, to make a long story short, I have decided that for EVERY BABY ITEM I sell in my shop, whether it be a bib, burp cloths, crochet hat, or whatever, I will donate one of those items {bib, burp cloths, crochet hat} to Hope Unlimited {a local Christian organization that aides women with crisis pregancies} or to our church's ACTS House, which gives free clothing and homegoods to families in need in our area.

Through this, I hope I am able to bless someone in a small way, as I am blessed daily. This also means I need to get more items in my shop, which is something I always put off. I love creating but hate listing. Boo hiss. If only I had an Etsy fairy...

*Profits from my shop will still go to the child I am going to sponsor through Compassion Int'l.

If you have any other ideas of ways I can use my craft for the greater good, please let me know! I'm always interested in new ideas. How do you give back?

Here are some blogs focused on using your crafts for the greater good:

Craft Hope

Snuggles Project

Kind Over Matter

God bless your day!

Hope for Paws

One day while browsing Flickr, I came across Hope for Paws. They are a non-profit organization that takes in stray animals of all kinds, provides veterinary care, and finds forever homes for these loving animals (or releases them to the wild, for some). As an animal lover, I am moved by what they are doing. Please visit their web site for more information.

Eldad Hagar is the founder and today is his birthday. He asks that you purchase their book, Our Lives Have Gone to the Dogs, in honor of his birthday. All proceeds go to the animals in need. You can get the book here.

Happy Birthday, Eldad! Keep up the great work!