Crafter's Charity Sunday: My Recovery Buddy

 Recently a good friend of mine has started down a path to truly helping those in addiction, or recovering from addiction.  I wondered if there was anything knitters and crocheters could do to practically support those in recovery.  Now recovery is a big word and the need is very real so when I found My Recovery Buddy through Giving Artfully's Facebook page I was pleased and relieved!   I thought HURRAH!  A need has been answered.  

Karen Agnello is the founder of "My Recovery Buddy" she felt a need to help those struggling.  Not just with addiction but with illness, trauma, medical or mental issues. Now speaking as a person who has been dealing with a non-life threatening but serious medical issue for the last year or so I can honestly say that just knowing someone has though of you, taken the time to make something for you, given you a loving gift, its priceless!  http://www.myrecoverybuddy.net/#!page2/cjg9  Many people have experienced those anxiety ridden and lonely night time hours when no one is around to listen.  That is the purpose behind My Recovery Buddy.  WENY TV did an interview with Karen Agnello here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=37&v=O63rTL53z4E.  You can readily feel how much those little stuffed "buddies" are appreciated.  Something to hold on to when things seem to be going south.  A big hug of love from your heart to someone who needs you.  Making a connection to let someone know they are not alone! 

Lets get down to brass tacks, how can YOU as a knitter or a crocheter help "My Recovery Buddy"?  First here's the website with the guidelines: http://www.myrecoverybuddy.net/#!guidelines/ckr2 .   Always read the guidelines!  Its so exciting to give a gift that you KNOW is going to help someone, a child with cancer or a soldier recovering from PTSD.  Next you can check out the patterns: crochet http://www.myrecoverybuddy.net/#!crochet-patterns/c1ww6  or Knit http://www.myrecoverybuddy.net/#!knit-patterns/c1gu9.   Remember these are going to people to help alleviate some of their struggle so make them "Huggable".  As knitters and crocheters we are all about huggable :)   Just to give you a little incentive here's a picture or two of finished buddies and their new friends  http://www.myrecoverybuddy.net/#!homecoming/c1ojk   also: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/my-recovery-buddy

If you do not knit or crochet any donations to My Recovery Buddy are tax deductible:  http://www.myrecoverybuddy.net/#!faq/czl8.  They will also happily accept donations of materials so that others can knit up or crochet "buddies"  

Struggle is part of the human experience.  We have all been there but some really experience the full weight of pain.  As a person of deep personal faith I rely on God and my praying friends to help me.  As does my friend who, as I write this, is working to help addicts.  Even so there are times when life is overwhelming.  If you've experienced those moments you know what I mean.  Think what marvelous things ONE recovery buddy can do.  Perhaps a buddy will be passed along from one person having gone through a trauma to another?  Ever widening circles of relief because you took the time to care.  That is what its all about.   Thank you for caring enough to read this blog today.  Have a beautiful Sunday.