Charity Crafting is Cheap Therapy

Scarves for the Homeless

Just finished weaving in stray ends on a red, white and variegated red/pink lapghan (for a long term care center) and a rust and navy scarf (for the homeless) for our charity crafting group. We meet every Friday to work on our projects and we really enjoy seeing our "stuff" pile up for distribution.

Many times during the week, though, we also work on the projects at home. It's not like we don't have other things to do. We each have our own lives and the issues that occupy those lives. But it feels so good to do something that we know will brighten someone's day. It's not like we feel the need to sit for hours at something. Often, we already have a tote or a bucket or a container of some sort, already loaded with the yarn and stuff to continue wherever we last left off.

In my case, sometimes I'll work for 15 minutes, watching the boob tube while working, get up during a commercial and turn something over on the stove or put the wash into the dryer, whatever, and go back for another 15 or 30 minutes.

This is especially therapeutic when we find ourselves feeling a bit low due to some life situation. At those times, grabbing a hook or a pair of needles and working on something for someone in need is a real picker-upper.

And, hey, since we use leftover yarn or donated yarn, it's cheaper than prescription medications or doctors. Yep, it's a great feeling and a safe high.