Hello All:

Shortly after Hurricane Katrina I became connected to a yahoo group of knitters who came together to simply knit washcloths for the survivors and those displaced, homeless etc. I was overwhelmed with emotion and quickly joined in on this effort of giving and showing basic human kindness. A few months later the need seemed to lessen but the group stayed together, committing to knitting cloths "for crisis."

I posted a message to them yesterday to ask if any one in the group was connected to a church or organization that could potentially get hand knitted cloths to the Middle East. I just can't sit by and not DO something to help.

This was the response I received and needless to say, my heart hurt when I read it:

Angel,

We'll step in here and say that primarily for reasons of the expense for postage, we haven't traditionally gotten involved in world crises...(We also hate to get into anything that could be misconstrued as a political issue - we don't care whose side you're on, it'll be a problem for somebody! That's just the nature of political issues...and we really do try to keep the peace in the groups we own, and co-own.)

lololol

Certainly, if this is something you feel strongly about, you should take whatever steps you feel you should...but as a group, we think we need to concentrate on "local" issues, not global ones...

We think we'll have our plates full enough (and probably soon enough since the hurricane season is getting towards that point that is likely to be a problem!) with crises at here in North America...

Happy Knitting, Crocheting, & Weaving!
Sallee & Jane
(List Moms)


I suddenly remembered two organizations whose mission it is to work for peace and help the women and children in parts of the world that have been devastated by war, famine, under-development, etc. They are MADRE -- http://www.madre.org and WILPF -- http://www.wilpf.org . I am going to be in communication with them to ask if they have sister organizations on the ground near the refugee sites. My vision is to send hand knitted cloths to be used with the the basic humanitarian supplies they are or will be eventually receiving. If I can find a company willing to donate travel size bars of soap, all the better. If not, I know I can squeeze out five dollars to send some bars of Ivory.

My question is this: is there anyone here willing to donate a small amount of time to knitting a washcloth or two (or as many as possible) ?? I'm willing to incur the cost of shipping the cloths from my home in Maryland to MADRE in New York. The only cost on your part would be knitting the cloth (basic Peaches and Creme or Sugar and Creme yarn at Joann's) and sending the finished cloths to me in the mail.

As a peaceworker and a parent I just can't get my head around the notion that our American hands "are just too full" to help people in need is something I just can't understand.

Please let me know if you're able or willing to help.

PEACE