Brighten Up Someone’s Day

A new friend, Keila, from Shreveport in Louisiana, found us and sent us chemo caps in various sizes and styles, ear warmers and PICC Line Covers.

Her note reads:

I recently found your organization online and was so excited to contribute to such an awesome cause.  I am sending beanies in various sizes, ear warmers and PICC Line covers.

Thank you for creating this organization and allowing me to make someone’s day a little brighter.

We are so grateful you found us and will include these in our next delivery.  We cannot spread hope and love without your generosity.

Thank you!
~Pali

The Biggest Contribution Yet!

The American Heart Association from Atlanta, Georgia sent us 4 boxes full of red baby hats, which is the largest shipment we have ever received! The hats are all red, but different sizes and styles to raise awareness for February, which is American Heart month!

We were quite surprised and amazed by how many hats were shipped to us! We will start counting, labeling and getting these ready for the deliveries.

Thank you for finding us and thinking of sending these to spread hope and love!
~Pali

Delivery: 175 to Babies

A little bit ago, our dear friend, Melissa was able to deliver 175 items to the babies in the NICU at St. Joe’s in Orange County.   The delivery included 110 red hats, 64 hats of various styles and colors, and 1 pair of baby booties.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this delivery, by making the hats, labeling and photographing the hats to delivering the hats!  We are so grateful that you are committed to spreading hope and love!

Thank you!
~Pali

110 Red Sweet Hearts

A new friend, Barbara from Georgia made 110 red baby beanies in various sizes and styles for the American Heart Association.  She later found out that they had discontinued this project and sought us out!  Aren’t we lucky she did?

We will donate these red sweetheart hats in honor of today, Valentine’s Day to a local NICU to spread love and hope!

Barbara’s note reads:

These are the hats as per our email conversation.

Hope they work

Any feedback would be welcome.

Hope to make some adult hats now.

We walk in faith and believe in God’s plan.  We are grateful you found us and hope that you will continue to want to contribute to Knitting Rays of Hope!

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Thank you!
~Pali

Spreading Kindness because of Friends like YOU!!

Our friend Michelle, from Bakersfield, California sent us another package of hats– all different colors, styles, and sizes.

Michelle also wrote us a note that reads:

Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of your amazing organization.  Thank God for people like you– spreading kindness simply because you can.  Blessings to you and everyone who receives these hats.

Thank you, Michelle, for your consistent contributions and willingness to help make items to spread hope and love.  We are so grateful for our community and it’s because of people like you that we are able to spread hope, love, and warmth!

Thank you!
~Pali

A Win-Win for Wendy and Us

A new friend, Wendy in Utah sends us these adorable hats and booties for babies.

Wendy’s note reads:

Please find enclosed a number of hats and a pair of baby booties.  The hats are of various sizes.  I am glad to have found your site where I can send donations.  I have some new yarn, and left over yarn and wanted it to be put to good use, and to make good use of the spare time I have.  My home is pet-free and smoke-free.  I have taught myself to knit and find it therapeutic with stress relief as well, so it’s a win-win thing going on here.  I love seeing all the various projects you post on Facebook and I thought, “Finall, now I know where to send my work!”

We are so glad you found us and sent us your creations! Thank you for helping us spread hope and love into the world.

Thank you!
~Pali

 

Cricket’s Blessings

Our good friend, Cricket from New Jersey sent us 30 hats.

Cricket also sent a note that reads:

Thank you for all you do.  I have chemo hats in this box.  God bless everyone that wears them!

Thank you for your steadfast generosity!
~Pali

World Cancer Day 2020: I Am And I Will

This World Cancer Day, we recognise that our commitment to act will lead to powerful progress in reducing the global impact of cancer.

So, this 4 February whoever you are, your actions – big and small -will make lasting, positive change. Because, progress is possible.

We need your commitment to create a cancer-free world.

This World Cancer Day, who are you and what will you do?

Source: worldcancerday.org

 

2020 Blanket Challenge Details

For 2020, Our Challenge: 200 blankets donated to babies and chemo warriors

We have been asked some questions about this Blanket Drive.

We are accepting all sizes (from baby lovies to adult large throws), loom knitted, crocheted, sewn and/or fleece blankets.  The criteria for yarn, fleece or material remains the same

• Must be new, never worn or used
• Should be washable
• Smoke-free & pet hair-free
• Soft yarn is best- cotton acrylic, silk, fleece or a blend.
• Wool/alpaca is acceptable, though is known to be scratchy.  If using wool or alpaca, please label the item- to warn those that are allergic
• Please wash your hands on a regular basis while making the items.
• Items do not need to be laundered if they are kept clean.  If you feel an item has to be washed before donating it, please use a hypoallergenic detergent and rinse very well.

If you follow us on Pinterest, we created a new board for this 2020 challenge to spark inspiration and provide some helpful tips.

As many of you know, we started Knitting Rays of Hope with loom knitting hats and then started dabbling into crochet with the help of Youtube and Pinterest.

I crocheted my first blanket a few months ago for a friend’s baby and enjoyed the process of it.  I used a shell stitch and found it easy enough to crochet it while watching tv.  If your talents are quilting or knitting, please feel free to make blankets that will suit your talents.

I found a chart for blanket sizes from Craft-Mart.com that will hopefully help provide some guidance.

While searching for ideas, I found All Free Crochet had an article for over 25 blanket patterns for beginners here.  And I may just try this blanket, as one of our friends, T. Stella Bernard suggested a baby afghan made up of individual squares that are sewn together.  I hope that this will be easy to just crochet squares and then put them together.  Wish me luck!

We thank you for trying to learn new things like making blankets to help us spread hope.

Thank you!
~Pali

 

Some Sunshine Doo-Dads

Our good friend, Robin from Sunshine Doo-Dads in Phoenix, Arizona sent us these cheery hats of all sizes.

Robin’s note reads:

I am happy to be shipping off this over stuffed box to your wonderful cause!  I already had all but 1 of these hats completed when you issued your request for blankets.  Although I am not currently a blanket maker, I am going to learn so that I can contribute! Thank you for your efforts and providing so much with my donation

We love how Robin’s hope and cheery spirit is so contagious from her “Sunshine Doo-Dads” to her willingness to try to learn how to make blankets.  We are so grateful for Robin as a great supporter/friend and an active and consistent member of our community!

Have a great day!
~Pali