May 26, 2013
Ideas
This Week's Idea
EVERY LITTLE KNIT HELPS
Many people jokingly complain that they have "nothing to wear," but for premature babies this is literally true. They are so little that few clothes fit them. This is one more concern for their families who have already been through so much.
Stitches from the Heart collects knit booties, sweaters, quilts, blankets and hats for premature babies. Items are sent to 1,400 hospitals, free for recipient families.
A low birth-weight baby is born every two minutes. Can you knit, or donate money for yarn? You will make a huge difference to a tiny baby and her/his family. Donations of yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks, and knitting looms are also greatly appreciated for Stitches' Senior Program, enabling seniors to knit too.
Knitting information: http://www.stitchesfromtheheart.org/ and click on FAQ
How to Help
1. Knit and mail to:
Stitches from the Heart, 9450 Mira Mesa Blvd, Suite C419, San Diego CA 92126
2. Click to donate online, then click on "How to Help" link
3. For patterns: Click, then click on the free patterns link.
4. Outside the US: Knit items for your local hospital.
Play a game, feed a dog. Play the Bow Wow trivia game at FreeKibble.com, and 10 pieces of free kibble will be donated to feed shelter dogs. You can also play Meow Trivia at FreeKibbleKat.com.
WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?
Do you ever wonder what happens to all your expired plastic cards when you're done with them? Gift cards, ID cards, hotel room key cards.
Billions are produced every year and end up in landfills forever. The cards contain polyvinyl fluoride (PVC), which is not biodegradable, as well as petroleum and other nasty chemicals that leach into the earth. Yuck.
Now you can recycle them 1-2-3: Cut them in pieces, put them in an envelope, and mail them to Earthworks. Earthworks will melt them down and make them into new cards that are petroleum and yuck-free. Brilliant!
Families and teachers: This is a great project for kids to help with.
Earthworks has a request: "Please just send plastic cards - no rubber bands, paper clips or paper. Thanks!"
Mail cards to: Earthworks c/o Halprin Industries, 25840 Miles Rd., Bedford, OH 44146
Another way to help: Spread the word at your favorite stores and hotels so they can recycle the cards they use. Click here for info.
THE POWER OF A BRA:
Send a bra to help human trafficking survivors become independent businesswomen.
At this moment, more than 20 million women and girls around the world are being held as slaves. Fortunately, some will be rescued and moved to safe houses. But without a livelihood, survivors of human trafficking often turn to prostitution to support themselves and their families.
Now they won't have to. Free the Girls turns survivors into businesswomen by giving them jobs selling second-hand clothing - especially bras. In many countries, a bra is a luxury. As a result, Free the Girls entrepreneurs, currently in Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Mexico and El Salvador, earn five times the minimum wage in their area when they have bras to sell.
A perfect fit: They need bras, and we have them. Bras are easy to donate. Most women in the west have at least one bra in the back of a drawer that they don't wear anymore. And giving a bra is a simple way to send hope and dignity to the women and girls who have suffered so much.
How to Help
1. Ladies: Send a gently used bra or two - any style, any size
2. Ladies/Gents: Ask your friends, family and co-workers to send one
4. Become a bra drop-off location
5. Host a bra collection event
Mail to: Free The Girls, 1552 Pioneer Trail, Chesterton, IN 46304.
Click for drop-off locations - US and Canada only. More info
HUNGRY? YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE
Just click to donate free food, and play the Free Rice game.
THE POWER OF SMALL
Mail a comb, bar of soap, toothpaste, toothbrush or travel-size toiletries to: Westside Food Bank, 1710 22nd St., Santa Monica, CA 90404, attn: Allison Griffith
The food bank mainly distributes food, of course, to some of the 50 million Americans who are hungry. But they also need hygiene items that most of us take for granted. Your gift will help a needy family maintain their dignity by looking and feeling better. Thank you.
You can also donate at your local food bank. Find it here.
MORE WAYS TO HELP
Just click to donate online: Feeding America: $5 provides 40 meals. Also Food Banks Canada and the World Food Programme.
