Crafts for the Homeless

The internet is a prime source for names of places who need our handcrafted help. For some groups, the items needed are spelled out very clearly. Preemie hats. Chemo hats. Pet blankets. Afghans for the elderly in long-term care. Many sites have specific guidelines to ensure that our gift will be happily received and even more happily used and treasured.

The homeless, though, are a special category. Making something for the homeless requires a little understanding of their situation. My DM used to make things for a group called Warm Fuzzies. They made scarves and hats for the homeless. She chose nice colors, of course, to cheer them, but she also shared with me other ideas, and I’ve since developed some of my own.
Items for the homeless should be sturdy and be able to take a lot of wear. Lacey items with fringes might be beautiful but will get tangled and probably even stolen quickly. The colors ought to be able to be worn a little while without showing daily soil. Variegated or shaded yarns and threads might make sense here. Or, using scraps to make a rainbow or palette of colors. These folks cannot wash their items as often as we can - that’s obvious.

So, color and texture is important. So is the purpose of the item. Usually the purpose is protection against either hot or cold weather. These are not impossible guidelines, but they are definitely sensible and practical ones. If we just keep these things in mind, the items we make and give to the homeless will withstand a lot of abuse and bring a lot of comfort.

Dear Father, guide me completely when I begin something for the homeless.