| Members of Hands4Love Peace Pod and the Longmont Peace Pod got together this month to create! |
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Hi, friends! I hope you have all had a chance to check out some of our new programming. We have been doing monthly Peace Pal Make-A-Longs and they have been a huge success! We love seeing Pals in the making and learning Evelyn's tips on how to make them cute as a button (without actually using buttons!).
A couple of weeks ago on February 13, we had the first of our Peace Maker Workshops. Longtime K4P community member, Linda, led us through the history of Revolutionary Crafting. We learned about the stories and strength behind the women who make up our Peace Makers monthly donor program and the impact of craftivism over time. Thank you to all who attended and to all of you who have become monthly donors! It is so helpful for us to have reliable funds each month. If you are interested in joining our Peace Makers and making a monthly donation, please visit https://www.knitting4peace.org/donate.
In support of the Revolutionary Craftivism workshop, we have launched a new merchandise campaign through Bonfire. Proceeds from each t-shirt, sweatshirt, water bottle, or mug purchase go directly toward our programming. There are 2 different editions of the merchandise. One is "Empowered People Empower Peace" and the other is "Empowered Women Empower Women". Choose your message and wear it with pride! You can purchase items at our Bonfire store at https://www.bonfire.com/store/knitting4peace/.
In an effort to create even more community programming, we are considering a virtual gathering of our Peace Pods and makers. We want to learn from you and help other makers make an impact in their community. During this gathering we want to have a conversation about how you find places to donate in your community, how do you run a successful Pod, and other issues that may help others. I am also considering a quarterly Peace Pod newsletter. If any of this would interest you (or make you spitting mad), please email me at kelly@knitting4peace.org.
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| Peace Pals donated by Hands4Love Peace Pod In Loveland, CO |
Finally, I want to thank all of you who have been emailing and writing to let us know of your local impact and K4P inspired projects! Here are some of the fabulous updates I have received this year. -
Prudence in Pennsylvania writes books about Peace Pals!
- The Ravelry Peace Pod has started a winter Make-A-Long and Cathy has already donated 8 hats in Georgia!
- Our dear friend Sarah in Houston donated 5 baby blankets.
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Jane in North Port, Florida donated 6 baby blankets.
- And our beloved Coralie and the new Loveland, CO based Hands4Love Pod, has donated to the Loveland Meal Ministry and Realities for Children.
And at the K4P Hub in Denver we have made donations to Newborns in Need, a girls school in Nairobi, Kenya, and provided comforting Pals at a Denver Immigration Clinic.
Thank you to everyone who sent their items to Denver or made a local delivery. Onward! With gratitude, Kelly Wulf, Executive Director |
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Community Member of the Month: The Hands4Love Peace Pod from Loveland, CO |
Hands4Love, our newest Peace Pod, is based in Loveland, Colorado and began when the organizer, Coralie J, had been diligently making items for Knitting4Peace for about 6 months. She was eager to work with a group of makers instead of just knitting on her own. So, with the help of Knitting4Peace’s Kelly Wulf and Kathy Partridge, Coralie and a small group of knitters quickly came together to form Hands4Love. They have been going strong ever since.
The members of this group are both creative and innovative in their approach. They put together kits for members and anyone else who is interested in making items for Knitting4Peace. Interested individuals can pick up the kits and then drop items off when they are finished. Past kits have included hats, mittens, booties, and Peace Pals. The members meet monthly, identifying a focus for each meeting. In the past, they’ve had a speaker from the Homeless Meal Ministry and a member who offered a class in strand knitting. Next month they will have an occupational therapist speaking on good body mechanics and avoiding hazards like carpal tunnel syndrome. A recent highlight was a joint meeting with a neighboring Peace Pod in Longmont.
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| Donations made and distributed by Hands4Love |
The Hands4Love members are committed to donating locally when possible as it connects them more tangibly with their community and saves on postage. Coralie is not shy about contacting groups to see what needs might exist and this has resulted in donations of much-needed hats and mittens to various schools, various items to a local clothing closet, and a partnership with the Homeless Meal Ministry. They also have sent items to hurricane victims on the east coast and to the Knitting4Peace office.
Coralie shared that members really enjoy spending time together while knowing that their knitted items are appreciated and benefit others. The members have diverse skill levels and remind each other that “hats don’t need to be fancy; they just need to be warm!” Members enjoy being connected with Knitting4Peace and knowing they are not alone in caring for others. The group Zoom classes and gatherings offered by Knitting4Peace are another benefit. They encourage others to “keep it light and have fun” when working with your Peace Pod.
Thanks to all the members of Hands4Love for being part of our growing community! We are so glad you’ve joined us. |
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Who are the Peace Makers?
Peace Makers are friends who choose to make a monthly donation to Knitting4Peace. There are several levels of being a Peace Maker and you can choose what best suits you! Each level is named after a revolutionary crafter who we find inspiring. You can learn all about them HERE
I already donate- why does being a Peace Maker matter?
Monthly donations, no matter the size, are what sustain K4P. It is regular, consistent revenue that we can rely on and utilize each month. We appreciate any and all donations whenever someone chooses, but it is good to know we can rely on the monthly Peace Makers to sustain our programming each month. What benefit do I get if I am a monthly Peace Maker?
There are tons of benefits! From workshops and prize drawing entries, to useful and thoughtful K4P merchandise. It all depends on what level you choose to give. We have our first Peace Makers Workshop coming soon in 2025 with the History of Revolutionary Crafters! However, the biggest benefit is knowing you are sustaining a very small nonprofit every single month. How do I join?
It is easy! Simply go to https://www.coloradogives.org/donate/Knitting4Peace
Once on the webpage, make sure to select "Monthly Donation" instead of "One-time Donation". Once you complete the donation, we get an email notification and will sign you up for your level! If you are not an online person, that's ok! Just let us know that you plan to send a monthly check and we will be on the look out for that. We are SO grateful for our existing monthly donors and we simply couldn't get through each year without you! Thank you for your belief in our mission! |
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Consistency is Key: Baby blankets
Size matters when it comes to baby blankets! One of our most requested items is small baby blankets. Our Community Partners have requested that they be no smaller than 26” and no larger than 30” on all sides. This size works best for infants just leaving the NICU and allows for blankets to be easily carried with infants on the bus, or sent to Guatemala to our Community Partners there. Knitted or crocheted blankets work best for these programs.
Larger baby blankets are also welcome and these can be knitted, crocheted, or quilted. Sizing is more flexible for these larger blankets and typically are between 30” to 52”. This size is requested by several different community groups serving families with young children. |
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Small baby blankets and Finger Puppets |
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Item Requests: Finger Puppets, Small Baby Blankets
Finger puppets are quickly growing in popularity as programs for young children learn how beneficial they are in supporting language development. We love seeing how creative you are in making these special people and animals. Recently we’ve had programs ask for more “people” puppets. At the risk of sounding like a broken record… One of our most requested items continues to be small baby blankets. These blankets should be no smaller than 26”, and no larger than 30”, on all sides. We currently have 2 organizations eagerly waiting for more blankets to come in. |
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Peace Pal Make-A-Longs
We have had 2 wonderful Peace Pal Make-A-Longs and they are receiving rave reviews! Make sure you stay tuned to the newsletter for more updates! This workshop is completely free and open to everyone. Even if you do not want to make a Peace Pal, but would like the company of fellow crafters, please join us for the next workshop! Use the button on the right to register! You can check out the past workshops on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@knitting4peace629/videos
- March 4, 2025 (Hijabs, hats)
- April 9, 2025 (Slouchy sweater, babies, bibs)
All virtual workshops are 4-530pm (Mountain Time) |
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Please note: Our donation intake is run solely by volunteers. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to immediately acknowledge each package as it arrives. Remember, you can always track your package with your carrier.
Remember, mailing costs qualify as tax-deductible nonprofit donations. Keep your receipts! Due to a lack of storage, K4P cannot accept yarn donations unless they are new and still in the original wrapper.
Thank you for understanding. |
| Mail or bring items to: 2600 N. Leyden St., Denver, CO 80207 Drop-Off hours: Monday through Thursday, 9am-12pm The church is no longer staffed by an assistant so please be sure to go during the timeframe mentioned above.
Ring the doorbell and you will be let into the church to drop off your items. EACH mailed box or dropped-off bag must include a note with the DATE, NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, E-MAIL, AND PEACE POD.
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Special thanks to Park Hill Congregational Church for their continued support and allowing us to share their space in Denver. |
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HAVE A QUESTION ON HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING? ASK ARNA! |
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Are you ready to support the mission of Knitting4Peace?
Donate using the button below! |
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Contact Arna@knitting4peace.org with questions about patterns and guidelines. Check out our social media posts for the latest news (links below). If you have questions about deliveries or donations please email info@knitting4peace.org. ALL donations sustain our work. Donate online or mail checks to:
2600 Leyden Street, Denver, CO 80207
Donations to Knitting4Peace are tax-deductible. |
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