What can you do when you have mad-love for your Brother 260 bulky and salivate over worsted-weight yarns, while standing in Walnut Creek during the month of July?  After all, you can only make so many sweaters when living in the warm climes of the Bay Area.  Well, there is the Guild’s Kindness Project.

One of the very best things about the MKGSFBA is the Kindness Project.  Putting your time and creative energies into something that you will give away, to someone you don’t know, is, well, good for the soul and good for the Universe.

The Guild holds two challenges per year for our members to knit and donate items to local groups.  These groups serve clients with limited incomes, individuals who are experiencing stressful and challenging life experiences – such as homelessness – and to hospitals.

The knitted items and their targeted populations have been hats and blankets for babies, including preemies; hats, ponchos, scarves and sweaters for children of all ages who have been placed into foster care; and shawls, scarves, hats and lap blankets for the elderly.  For the past few years, one of our most-talented members has been creating much sought after Twiddle Muffs for dementia and Alzheimer patients. She’s even having a hard time keeping up with demand!

The donations are distributed in the late spring/early summer, and then again around the holidays in December.  We know these items bring great comfort to their recipients, as the Guild is always overwhelmed with appreciation and thanks.

The Holiday Kindness Challenge will focus on the elderly and foster children, served by two organizations:  the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging and the Oakland office of Triad Family Services.

The Area Agency on Aging, which is part of Alameda County Social Services, serves the elderly who are either living in care facilities, or are house-bound, lack resources and a support network.  Triad Family Services provides foster care placement services to a wide age range of children, from infants to 17 year-olds.  Both organizations have requested lap blankets (for the elderly), baby blankets, shawls, sweaters, gloves, cowls, scarves, and hats in every size.  Donations can be brought to the October, November and December Guild meetings.

To donate an item, contact our Kindness Project Coordinator.

Here are some pictures of a few of our newly-donated items…