Do you know someone who is blind and who would love to knit or crochet? Perhaps someone who used to see, but has lost their vision? Marjorie bought a braille embosser and realized that the blind might appreciate some braille pattern books! Funny, I have been thinking about exactly this for a long time! Even putting the patterns on tape or something. Genius!

My step-mom Marian works for Aisling Discoveries. They work with many shelters and donated hand-knit or crocheted items will be distributed to the needy. Little baby hats and baby mitts and hats, scarves and mitts for children 12 and under. Don't forget their mommies :) Any donations of gently used items - toys, strollers, high chairs, baby seats, swings, etc are appreciated!

Some other charity organizations to donate items to:

Covenant House

Out of the Cold (our hospital does "Out of the Cold Sock Gifts")

CHUMCity Christmas Wish (drop off locations)

Cubs for Kids

Happy crafting :)

Knitty has a surprise pattern in their Fall 2004 issue. Click here and select a site to download from. (They're spreading the bandwidth.) This surprise is to support breast cancer awareness. Might be nice to knit a bunch of the first pattern and sell them. Give the proceeds to breast cancer research. :)

Scarves, hats, socks and a story from a breast cancer survivor which I found to be very moving. Save the breasts! But more importantly, save lives.

I believe in karma and that old adage "What goes around, comes around." I also try to live my life by doing unto others as I would have them do unto me. This morning on Breakfast Television, a group of young men were on promoting random acts of kindness. They're called the "Extreme Kindness Crew" Some of the things they've done include visiting an office with cookies and giving everyone massages. Reading through the journal entries can get the old waterworks going, so be sure to have kleenex handy!

Do you commit random acts of kindness on a daily basis? Need ideas? Check out More Random Acts of Kindness.

Here are some of my own:

knit up some dishcloths for your neighbour

bake some cookies for your neighbour

mow your next-door neighbour's grass when you mow your own (shovelling snow in winter is also kind)

help someone overloaded with grocery bags even if that means being on the wrong platform in the subway station

when buying yourself a coffee, pay for two and let the next person getting a coffee get a surprise free coffee from a stranger!

Check out Dave on Breakfast Television hugging people at King & Bay in Toronto. Click here and then scroll down to Dave under "BT Moments". I love Dave Pinton. He's a good sport.

What random act of kindness have you committed lately?

I'm curious to hear about what other people are doing this Christmas for charity. I'm still working on my Out of the Cold sock gifts and want to get a toy for the CHUM City Christmas Wish Toy Drive.

My sister Amber told me that her fiance's gramma knits 50 pairs of mittens and 50 hats every year for the Salvation Army. What a Saint! Can you imagine knitting that much? That would take me years!

Some people adopt a family for Christmas which I think is a lovely idea.

I'd love to hear what other people are doing this year for those less fortunate and in need or for your favourite charitable organization.

This year, our Food Services dept. at the hospital is organizing a toy drive for the CHUM City Christmas Wish. We have drop-off boxes at the entrance to the cafeteria and at the main hospital entrance as well. The CHUMCity Christmas Wish site lists drop-off locations.

Last year, over 30,000 people in our city used emergency shelters. You
can help someone less fortunate this holiday season by putting together a sock gift. Here's how:
1 - Stuff one heavy sock with its mate.
2 - Add:
1 toothbrush and toothpaste
1 comb or brush
1 head band or toque
1 package of Kleenex
1 lip balm or moisturizer
1 sweet treat
3 - Tie the top with a bright ribbon.

This is what we're doing at work. There is a drop-off box in our front lobby by the screening desk. Ours are going to Out of the Cold.
Out of the Cold is an emergency shelter and meal program to help the
homeless. To make a clothing or monetary donation, call the Out of the
Cold Trinity Church (Bloor St. West location) at 416.410.6458.

You could of course do the same idea for a shelter in your area.

"KNITTERS
Would you like to help all the families in B.C.
affected by the forest fires?

They have lost all of their winter clothing.
Wouldn't it be nice to give them a hand knit
pair of mittens, socks or slippers?
Or maybe a scarf or a hat?
Let's help them keep warm this coming winter!"

Dr. Corinne Main, a Chiropractor in Vernon, B.C. has begun a project for knitting for the victims of the B.C. fires. The victims have lost all of their winter items and Dr. Corinne Main is collecting handknit items at her clinic to be distributed.

Now that is a wonderful Christmas project. Please help out and tell all of your knit and crochet friends!

Her website also shows some awesome (in the true sense of the word) pictures of the fires. They make your hairs on your arms stand on end.

Care and Cuddles is based in St. Catherines, Ontario. This is a person who decided to make a difference for children in battered women's shelters by crocheting and knitting small toys for the children or collecting gently used stuffed animals and making sweaters for them. She includes a note with the name of the person who made the item and a message that says "you are in our thoughts". What a wonderful project to work on for Christmas.