Charity Idea Outpost: Emily's Hats for Hope Initiative 

Today is my son's birthday so I am a little late getting my blog together.  However I found Emily's Hats for Hope Initiative on facebook and thought with Fall coming up rapidly, now would be a good time to share this charity. In the Northern Adirondacks you rarely see people sleeping out on the street but we do have homeless families and we do most definitely have people who are among the working poor.  Let's take a look this great charitable outreach. 

Emily's Hats for Hope Initiative (EHFHI from here on) began in December 2011.  5 years ago I remember seeing this young 17 year old girl on charity blogs and Ravelry trying to help the homeless and working poor of Morristown, New Jersey.  Her infectious smile and enthusiasm started a movement that has lasted FIVE years!   Many knitting and crochet charities don't last that long.  I was super impressed with this young lady then as I am now.  

This is the Mission Statement and Goal of EHFHI "Mission Statement: We make, collect and donate winter hats, scarves, afghans & baby blankets to the homeless, working poor and others in need.Our long-term goal is to have a spin-off of Emily’s Hats For Hope Initiative in every state in the United States and expand our international reach. We also would like to donate 50,000 winter hats by 2021."  

That is a laudable goal and mission statement but EHFHI cannot do this without our help.  This undertaking has become a world wide.  EHFHI is now seeking help in opening spin off chapters!   One young woman made a difference and now EHFHI is asking others to attempt to change their corner of the world "One hat at a time" as the website for EHFHI states on their page header.  The Facebook page tells all about how to begin a spin off chapter here:  

​One thing is for sure there are plenty of places to donate hats, scarves, afghans, baby blankets and mittens.  EHFHI has donated to ALL these places which proves that with a little tenacity the love of a warm hat or scarf  can spread a lot of joy.   Are you interested in donating to EHFHI or one of the affiliate chapters?   Here are a few guidelines.  These are not much different than many other charities but they are very clear and well written.  I appreciate that very much.   Please follow all the guidelines carefully and remember that these hats, scarves, blankets, mittens, slippers are going to people who need warmth and to know someone cares.  So try to think of your donation as a gift to a friend or loved one.   If you are serious about donating to EHFHI or a spin-off organization here's the address.

EHFHI's newest event is 1,200 Winter Hats, Scarves, and Gloves mainly for men who are homeless and living outdoors.  This Event on Facebook started August 6 and will run through November 1, 2016.  You can read the guidelines for this event here:  Again please follow the guidelines carefully. 

Concurrent  to this event is another event in support of  Click For Babies which is an organization focused on preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome.  Each purple hat made goes to an infant to remind new parents that babies cry.  "CLICK for Babies is a grassroots public education campaign organized by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS) in partnership with hospitals, public health and child abuse prevention groups to create awareness of the leading trigger for infant abuse, frustration with infant crying.
During the campaign, communities all across North America donate handmade caps stitched in all shades of purple. Along with these caps, new parents receive a video, booklet, and bedside information describing the Period of PURPLE Crying (a period of time when infant crying increases; beginning when babies are about two weeks old, peaking in the second month and ending around the third to fifth month)".  clickforbabies.org/about-click-for-babies-campaign.php   EHFHI's event will be held September 1, 2016  But if you go to the Click for Babies Campaign page here: you'll find that they are collecting through October 1, 2016  in the following states.  Sadly New York State is not on the list again.  Its very frustrating to me because I am currently unable to help start a chapter on my own in the Northern Adirondack region but I know we need one desperately! 

I hope that all of you reading today's blog will consider how you can help Emily's Hats for Hope Initiative or Click for Babies.   Funds or yarn donations to a local knitting group for the purpose of making hats or funds sent directly to Click for Babies would also be wonderful.  I know many of you out there share my great concern for the most vulnerable of our society.  They say charity begins at home.  Why not join Emily and be the charity at home?  I wish I could.