There are ways we can all help. To make contributions, Charity Navigator has a list of charities raising money for this disaster. They include local food bank, Habitat for Humanity, and The American Red Cross. This website (also a non-profit) has financial information on each charity and shows how much of monies collected gets to the needy.
If you are a quilter and want to help out other quilts, or help by using your quilting/knitting skills, here is what I have found:
1. Bittersweet Quilts, a shop in Joplin, is looking for homemade quilts. They are also hoping for donations of a matching sheet set to make it easier for the bedding to be given out. See the linked page for addresses and additional specifications.
2. The Ackfeld Manufacturing Co. is collecting quilts for Joplin, working through churches and local organizations. From their FaceBook page: "Rebuilding "One Patch At A Time" We are collecting Quilts for the victims of Joplin. If you have any that you would like to donate please send to Ackfeld Mfg @ 360 Emerson Rd Reeds Spring, Mo 65737. Let's show Joplin the love of Quilters."
3. There is some talk on the web that the Springfield, Missouri chapter of Project Linus has already sent blankets to Joplin, and will be sending more. I don't see anything on their website, but contact information is on the site. "...It is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, victims of natural disasters or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer 'blanketeers'." Specifications for knitted, crocheted and quilted blankets are on the site.
4. The Town and Country Quilters Guild of Joplin, which makes quilts for the needy (172 just last year), lost all of their quilting supplies when the house they were stored in was destroyed. All of their fabric, batting, rotary cutters, cutting boards..etc are gone. Donations of quilting supplies are being accepted by the guild representative and can be mailed to: Gloria Park, 2921 N. Hickory,Joplin, Missouri 64801. (btw, the only JoAnns fabric store in town was also destroyed). They will also take checks, gift cards ...etc See Susan Brubaker Knapp's website for more details.
Is there a resource for those knitters who need supplies such as needles and yarns. We are a Knitting Guild in California that has an overstock of these items and would like to donate to help but don't know where to start. Can you help?
ReplyDeleteI really don't know, but I see there is a knitting store listed for Joplin - The Needle Niche. 114 E 4TH ST Joplin, MO 64801 (417) 624-3937 Perhaps they can help you? (it's possible they might have been on the side of town that was hit...but it's worth trying). Or I would try contacting some of the quilter contacts, someone will know. Project Linus might have some contacts in the area also. Good luck!
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