Community Service

Tammy Gonzalez is heading up our Community Service committee and is planning to focus in some specific areas this year. You can find patterns to knit in support of these groups at the bottom of this page. If you find additional links to free pattern sites, send them to the website editor for inclusion here.

International Outreach - We plan continued support for Suse Jahns efforts to improve the life conditions of women in Honduras by teaching them to knit. Throughout the year we will be sponsoring yarn and needle drives to coincide with her trips. These materials help sustain the cottage industry these women are working in to create articles of clothing that they can sell in their shop.

Outreach to Women - We support our local Women’s center and women veterans hospitalized at the Houston VA Medical center. Items provided are: 36”x48” Lap Blankets and knitted slippers

Outreach to Infants and Children – We support infants and children by knitting preemie hats , bereavement blankets for Ben Taub General Hospital, the local charity hospital. The bereavement blankets are 20”x20” white blankets used for burial when a family has no clothes for their deceased infant.

FREE PATTERNS ON THE WEB!

Care Wear Volunteers patterns for infants
About.com Guide To Free Knitting Patterns for blankets, slippers, and preemie hats
Lion Brand Charity Knit and Crochet Patterns for blankets and hats
Microspun Preemie Cap from Lion Brand
Touching Little Lives patterns for infants
InKnitters Charity Knitting Supplement 2004 patterns for slippers, preemie hats, bereavement blanket, and many others
Craft Yarn Council of America: Caps for Kids program patterns for children’s caps, as well as other free patterns for the family

Carla Sedan, Julie White, Maggie Baldwin, and Sheila Katz
deliver afghans to the Houston Area Women's Center.

Other Community Events

Empty Bowls Houston, March 3, 2007- Benefitting the Houston Food Bank. Click here for details on this event. Bowl collection begins the last weekend in January.

Other Service Groups

Kayleen Clements is hosting a Houston-based charity knitting and crocheting group concentrating on crafting for charities locally, nationally and worldwide. For more information, you can join their yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FromtheHeartofTexas/