Crafting Warmth
|
Crafting Warmth
|
|
Size Guide & Patterns |
Welcome to Casting Off the Cold! We are a volunteer organization of knitters and crocheters based in Markham, Ontario who handcraft clothing and other items for donation to shelters, support organizations and hospitals. Our knitting circle meetings, held in multiple locations around Markham every month, are open to new members of any age group and experience level. Please check out our meeting schedule and drop by. We'd love to have you join us - no membership fees or firm commitments required. If you can't make it to our meetings and would like to contribute, you can drop your donation with one of our Partners or you can join our online community! Each month we collect donations from our online crafters for one of our causes in particular. Check out the Casting Off Online page for more information.
Our MissionGiving back to our community is important to us. By using our handcrafting skills, we can make a difference for people who might otherwise go without warm clothing in winter, and we can assist support organizations in taking care of those who come to them for help.
Organization ProfileCasting Off the Cold was established by artist and hobby knitter Sally Karamath in 2006 to carry on a tradition of helping the homeless that her family established in her home country of Trinidad. "When I worked in downtown Toronto, I saw so many people struggling with the cold each winter, I knew I had to do something to help them. That's where the idea of knitting for charity started." From a core group of four in the first year, we have grown steadily in members and have increased the size of our donations by almost double in each year. Much appreciation goes to our members for the time and skills they devote to our cause, and we also have to extend a huge thanks every year to the anonymous donors who drop goods off at the various knitting shops who so graciously accept donations on our behalf.
What We Need NowThere's always a need for a variety of items, but sometimes our organizations find themselves short of certain things. This is the list of the most-needed pieces if you're planning a project: Blankets - preemie and baby blankets of all sizes Men's and Young Adult hats and scarves in darker colours
News Update
April 11, 2010: We will not be holding monthly meetings at Michael's in Richmond Hill until further notice.
Contact Information Do you have a question about our organization? Would you like to make a donation of finished goods or excess yarn for our volunteers? Interested in joining us? Please contact us by e-mail. Our blog is updated regularly with photos of new donations and news from our latest meetings. Feel free to take a look and make a comment! Casting Off the Cold Blog
|
|
Send mail to castingoffthecold@gmail.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
June
4, 2010: There are plans underway to add a Stouffville meeting this
fall. Please check the site for more information as it becomes
available.