charities + orgs.

More information about charities and organizations you should know about.

Thank You.

| Betsy

No matter if you call today Veterans Day or Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, just remember to say thank you to a veteran today. (Confused by all these names? Go learn more here.) No matter what you call it, it’s still about paying tribute to veterans who have given their lives for their countries.

According to the US Census, there were 23.7 million veterans in the United States. Chances are you’re pretty darn near one right now, so thank them.

Not all veterans look like those lovely men above snuggling in cozy lapghans either. If you’re not sure what’s going on in the world military-wise (seeing that the military produces veterans), go read something on this list for a start:

*At War: New York Times blog
*Guardian: Afghanistan
*Reuters: Iraq: Bearing Witness
*The Age: Afghanistan
*United States Department of Defense

Then, armed with knowledge, go say thank you. They work to protect you (outside of foreign policy issues or whatever), at the end of the day, that’s the basis of their job. Every day. While you fight with the copier or fall asleep in meetings or fill in yet another spreadsheet. They have more at risk than a broken fingernail or struggling with formatting that makes no sense in MS Office.

Not sure how this day came to be? Here’s a quick lesson, text taken from here.

HOW IT STARTED:
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

(But there was no hoopla. The hoopla came later after all the naming of people to committees and obscure laws. In short, the hoopla began later.)

THE HOOPLA!:
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Completely unrelated: Knitting for Good! was published one year ago today! Exciting!

A Few Questions With.. Just Work Economic Initiative.

| Betsy

The Just Work Economic Initiative works to employ individuals who can’t find “traditional employment.” They recently answered a few questions for me about the work they’ve been doing!




Q: How did this all come about?

A: Through our work as volunteers in the community we heard a common concern amongst those who regularly frequent soup kitchens and other charitable organizations seeking help. While they were able to meet some of their basic needs for food, clothing and housing they were unable to find work. Hearing this, members of Grandview Calvary Baptist Church developed the idea of JustWork as a way to offer employment opportunities to individuals who would like to work, but may otherwise be seen as unemployable. JustWork officially began in February 2004 with a four-pronged strategy to assist those on the margins – offering employment counseling, a job-match program, support for those with dreams of starting a small business, and social enterprise development for individuals facing major hurdles to the workforce.

Since the last half of 2005, JustWork has focused most of its time and energy on the development of social enterprises. They wanted to assist those in their midst facing the most daunting challenges to finding work, and social enterprises seem to be the best tool available for this task.

Before the development of JustWork, a pottery studio in the basement of the church welcomed local people who weren’t able to afford classes or other studios. An open drop-in time began for people to learn play with clay and work on their own projects. The studio’s mission is to foster community, healing, acceptance dignity and creativity.

The pottery business started with the idea that it would use the existing studio and people would get paid for their pottery work. This would bring in an income as well as foster community and dignity.

Q: Why pottery? What are the benefits that people get from working there?

A: Clay is one of the easier and accessible forms of art. It is creative and completely hands-on. It is dirty but satisfying. When we don’t have much control over our lives, we can see that we can have lots of control over the clay and can make something from start to finish. We can imagine something and make it within and month-long period. This is the gift of clay, the therapy of clay.

The benefits of work here are the community that is formed as they work together, creating in a small space, the dignity that is gained from seeing their pieces bought and loved by others, and being able to work well, contributing to good work for the income.

Q: Two of the biggest rewards of working with clay?

A: We have control over the clay, as I mentioned above, that the process and the control and the molding is up to us, and that we can be creative in this process.

It is also hands-on…working with the hands and the body is both redeeming and healing.

Q: Do they find that despite their varying living conditions or situations, they connect via the pottery…not only the learning experience, but also in the craft itself?

A: There is a community that is forming in our studio. They talk as they work together about their plight, their struggle, their daily needs, their recovery. They have become friends with each other and see each other outside of the studio and work. They worry about each other and try to take care of one another.


For more information about Just Work, check out their Etsy shop and blog. Just can also follow them on Twitter over here.

Another Knitted Wedding. And Newsworthy Sheep.

| Betsy

Ok, so The Sun newspaper is not known for its hard-hitting journalism like some of the UK broadsheets. But what it does manage to do superbly is remind the world that people can do some pretty fantastic things. I’ve copied and pasted the text (and a photo) from the article here, as there was no way that I could beat their original crackin’ choice of words:

A SHEPHERDESS got married in a wedding dress made entirely from the wool of one of her flock.

If you’re planning to get married real soon as well, it’s best to find the wedding ring that you’re dying to wear for the rest of your life, such as those antler wedding rings for sale online.

Louise Fairburn, 38, designed the outfit, made from the fleece of a rare Lincoln Longwool called Olivia. Groom Ian, 42, wore a woollen waistcoat. If you’re looking to tie the knot soon, Award winning wedding planning company in Toronto city offers luxury destination weddings by Designed Dream in Dominican Republic and Mexico. A day-of coordinating service is included in the all-inclusive package offered by Designed Dream if you’re looking for Toronto wedding planners.

Louise, of Market Rasen, Lincs, said: “I’m sheep-crackers. I want to prove wool is not just something for knitting bobble hats.”

Sheep breeder Ian, who first saw the dress as Louise walked down the aisle, said: “I took one look at her, my lip curled like a young sheep’s does and I started blubbering.”

Lovely. You can find other photos at coverage over at The Daily Mail and The Telegraph.

Lest this recall another knitted wedding, you might be thinking of Cast Off’s knitted wedding for the marriage of Freddie Robbins and Ben Coode-Adams. Clicking on the photo of them pedaling off in wedded bliss will take you to their wedding photo gallery. To read the new adventures of one of the forces behind the happiness that is Cast Off Knitting Club for Girls and Boys, check out the magical world of the shop Prick Your Finger! Their always interesting and amusing blog is over here.

EVEN MORE SHEEP NEWS!
Also, remarkably in sheep news today in The Sun: “Ram-bo slides down high wire,” ram gets caught on zipline by horn. No, really.

Hand/Eye Magazine.

| Betsy

HAND/EYE magazine just may be my new favorite thing. Design, Creativity, Beauty, Philanthropy. How am I only just now discovering this gem? Through the Twitterverse, where happily, they found me! Thank you technology!


HAND/EYE’s Mission Statement:

HAND/EYE is an independent, international publication which explores the nexus between design and development, culture and commerce, art and craft, and environment and ethics. HAND/EYE’s goal is to engender intelligent debate among artisans, exporters, designers, artists, wholesalers and importers, retailers, and consumers so that all may make smart, ethical, and inspired decisions about their activities.

HAND/EYE articles will discuss design as a tool for development and income generation, as well as for environmental and social progress. The magazine will also discuss innovative and ethical retail practices as a force for more enlightened and informative consumerism, and will look at NGO programs addressing artisan income generation and community well being. We will showcase relevant new product for the consideration of retailers and consumers.

Through the work of accomplished photographers, we will also look at artisan life in a visual context. In interviews with inspiring creators and do-ers of all kinds, HAND/EYE will offer nourishing food for thought to all readers.

Proceeds from sales of HAND/EYE will be divided among several non-profit agencies working to address artisan issues.


While I’m well impressed by all of it, it must be said I’m especially in love with the textiles section. Thanks HAND/EYE for all the beautiful and informative and helpful work that you do!

Charity: Knit-A-Square.

| Betsy

WHO: Knit-A-Square, a charity collecting crocheted and knitted squares for AIDS orphans.

WHAT: Collecting 400,000 squares! 400,000! Enough to make 10,000 blankets! You could also make a vest, a pullover or a hat!

WHAT TO MAKE: 8″x8″ squares. (20×20 cms) 24 squares = 1 baby blanket. 40 squares = child’s blanket. (Knit instructions!) (Crochet instructions!) Make 1 square. Make 400,000 squares. Go for it.

WHY: “This children’s charity serves many of these abandoned children and AIDS orphans both affected by, and infected with, HIV AIDS. It is estimated that there are 11.6 million orphans* in sub-saharan Africa. 1.4 million live in South Africa.” More about these orphans here.

WHERE: The charity is in South Africa. There are a few postal requirements, which you can read about here.

If you’d like to keep up-to-date with this charity, you can sign up for their ezine, Square Circle here. Their website is so great! There’s even a page for pain free knitting!!

*In case you’d like to know how many people 11.6 million really is, it’s about the size of the state of Ohio. Or a little more than the entire population of Greece. Think about it.