I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because

This website, and indeed, this first blog post, is to talk about this inspiration I have, of knitting humanity together one stitch at a time with like-minded people to provide hand- and heart-made clothes, blankets, scarves, hats, mittens to foster kids, refugees, and other populations with need.

I've thought about this for quite a while now. I am but one person, yet I want and can to make a difference. Love, compassion, and joyous works really light me up. It's how I'm wired; I've been this way for as long as I can remember.

While I may be one person, I know I make a difference. I can join forces with another, and another, and another. Together we make a bigger difference. So it makes sense to look for partners in crime of like mind. Is that you?

One of the possibilities is creating a nonprofit organization. Its mission? Right now, it is two-fold:

• A crafts non-profit providing opportunities for like-minded people to gather and create warm, snuggly, functional goods and clothing by knitting, crocheting, sewing, weaving, and other related endeavors and crafts.

• A teaching and learning resource center, providing a safe, loving and accepting environment in which to grow and explore the wonderful world of ancient arts and crafts that have existed or centuries for good reason - they give us the means with which to create practical goods that are beautiful and clever. One resource may be here.

Knitting To Benefit Treehouse For Kids and Knitted Knockers

Our crafts group at work is knitting to benefit Treehouse For Kids and Knitted Knockers. In the Fall, we also knit red hats for Little Hats Big Hearts. The group participation ebbs and flows, along with life's quirks and demands.

Like a lot of charity knitters and groups, we purchase the supplies ourselves at retail. Those who can itemize at tax time (and keep good records :) can deduct these expenses per IRS regulations. I'd like to have an organization that can get the core supplies at better-than-retail prices. That means a business license or a non-profit. [Note: some of what I'm writing has not been totally researched, so read knowing it needs to be vetted.] Additionally, non-profit status qualifies for donations from companies like Joann and Michael's.

I've been conducting internet searches, looking for like-minded and like-missioned organizations. It makes sense to join forces with an already existing org if its mission and how it operates are wonderful, and there's a way I can affiliate with them - I'm pretty sure there would be a way to partner with them. Regardless, I have yet to find that special organization with which to affiliate.

The next step is to consider that creating/forming a non-profit is really the thing that needs to happen. This is where you come in (Finally, you say!). I'm taking advantage of the Wix platform for a vanity URL, which is why this is called http://knittinghumanity.wix.com/together. If the non-profit officially forms, the URL will naturally change. But this will do for now.

Are you:

• A deeply caring human being wanting to make a difference?

• Crafty and creative? ... &/or ...

• Organized, with a good business sense?

If you'd like to chat, please email me here. Thank you.

And thank you for reading this far. I'll have more posts along the way...

Karla

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