Since its beginning, the members of the Liberty Bell Knitting Guild have supported many charities. Here is information on a few that we have supported in recent years.
The Mittens for Ukraine project began in 2023. Ukraine’s winters are harsh, and many people have lost their homes and possessions - everything you can send will be welcome. When you think of a winter night without heat, water, or electricity, realize how much contributions mean. Every donation makes a difference in someone’s life. You can participate if you only have time or energy to make a single pair.
Mittens, hats, and children’s sweaters are needed. Please do not send scarves, cowls, or fingerless gloves.
All items must be made of 100% animal fibers for reasons of warmth and safety - no acrylic, no nylon, no cotton.
Any sizes that fit small children to adults are acceptable. All items must be sized to fit a “standard” human – please do not donate hats with a 30” diameter, or mittens that are 15” from wrist to fingertip.
All donations are delivered to the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee in Northeast Philadelphia in late September or early October, so they can reach Ukraine before cold weather sets in. We usually make a second, smaller delivery a month or two later.
Drop finished mittens off at Wild Hand in Mt. Airy any day they’re open, or bring them to a meeting of the Liberty Bell Knitting Guild. Or mail or deliver them directly to the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, 1206 Cottman Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111. For other options, send a question to the email below.
For complete guidelines, or for any other questions about this project, contact Elizabeth Durand at eadknits@gmail.com. Use “Mittens for Ukraine” as the subject line.
Military families who are stationed on local bases are a
group that some Guild members support. In celebration of the birth of a new military
family member, handcrafted crochet and knit baby blankets and child-sized hats have
been gifted to families connected with Joint Base McGuire-Dix (McGuire Air Force Base
and Fort-Dix Army Base). Other donated items have included diapers, teddy
bears, teething rings, bottle brush and splash guards, pacifier clips, wipes and
laundry baskets. If you would like more information about donations, please email Michelle
Heyward at heywardmichelle6@gmail.com and please put “support for military families” as the subject line.
Many members have knitted or crocheted hats, using only acrylic yarns, for preemie babies who are hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Bryn Mawr Hospital and the ICU at Einstein have been among the local hospitals who received our recent donations. If you’re interested in making preemie hats for your local hospital, you can find many patterns on Ravelry. Do check in with your local hospital to see if preemie hats are needed and how you can get hats to them.
Bonding squares might be something new to many people – bonding squares are knitted or crocheted in pairs in 3 ½” or 4” squares using cotton or acrylic yarn. A baby in the NICU will have one and the parent or caregiver will have one. The squares can be switched back-and-forth when the parent visits the baby in the hospital.
Check in with the NICU before squares are taken to a hospital, and ask if the hospital launders them or if the squares need to be laundered before they are delivered.
People have made hats, scarves, and mittens for local shelters and for groups that work on “warming up” their neighborhoods. Sometimes local yarn shops (LYS) have organizations they collect items for – check in with your LYS to see if there’s a group you could support.