Over the years, we’ve sent about 50 afghans to kids — usually requested by a close friend or family member. But we don’t just send blankets to kids, we’ve sent a couple to adults with illnesses as well (if we have something appropriate.) Additionally, at Nala’s urging, we’ve expanded the scope of the project over the years to include: making requests for donations of preemie booties, hats & blankets for several neo-natal intensive care units (in honor of my friend Tracey who lost her twin boys when they were born 18 wks premature); scarves, hats, and mittens for a Ukrainian orphanage in Smalia; and a re-gifting program where people could dispose of unwanted yarn and we would re-gift it (often annon) to area education and community service organizations, and skills-training programs for underserved demographic groups. Squares that we can’t use for comfortghans (the name we gave to blankets for cancer kids) we sew together and made into tiny little blankets that we donate to animal shelters and humane societies. Our four legged friends get cold in the winter too, and often the animal shelters keep the kennel rooms colder than is comfortable to keep costs down. Even short lengths, which would be unusable in blankets have a home in preschools and elementary school art rooms, boys and girls clubs, and after school programs in underserved and poor communities—where they are made into hair for self portraits or a myriad of other projects.  Odds and ends balls of yarn can be used for lots of crafts and such—and struggling arts teachers often welcomed our gifts. We’ve sent yarn donations to native American reservations for use in their craft projects they use to help them support themselves, and we’ve encouraged people to make and donate cancer caps for kids who’ve lost their hair.

Current Projects/ Afghan Requests

-- Afghans for Angel —
Our signature project provides children of all ages who are fighting cancer with a comforting hand crocheted or knitted afghan.

-- The Preemie Project —
Collecting booties, bonnets, layettes, and blankets for Preemies and Tiny ones. This project honors Dyllan Schoen, who joined the world in 1991 and weighed only 2.2 pounds.  

-- 365 for Dennis Bears — 
Honoring Dennis Gonzales, one of our first Afghan for Angel recipients, whose grandmother Patt Marcial began collecting crocheted teddy bears and other stuffed animals to donate in honor of Dennis.

-- Amanda Caps —
Crocheted chemo caps for girls, to honor Amanda Cox.

--  Beanies for Boys —
Crocheted chemo caps for boys.

-- Pop the Tabs for Ronald McDonald —
We collect aluminum pop and soup / tuna can tops for Ronald McDonald House Charities. They are donated to the Galena, IL middle school who combines the tabs with other schools as a regional philanthropic exercise for the students.