Community Outreach
Right here in the National Capital Region, there are unfortunately many people for whom it is difficult to keep warm in the colder months. They may not have hats, mitts, socks, scarves and other special items to help them do so. Since the inception of the Ottawa Knitting Guild, members have been making a variety of items for donation to charitable organizations.
Donated items may be for babies, older children, teens, and adults. They include mitts, scarves, hats, sweaters, neck warmers and cowls, socks, and blankets.
Frequent recipients of the items produced are: Shepherds of Good Hope, St. Mary's Home, Bethany Hope Centre, The Youville Centre,Centretown Community Health Centre, The Snowsuit Fund among others.
In addition to the Ottawa Knitting Guild, many groups around the city also knit to meet the needs of our community. If you are de-stashing from your own supply, or if you are donating a loved one’s stash, you may consult the list below to direct your donation.
Knitting patterns, booklets and magazines are best donated to a thrift store. Knitting books may be useful for the Guild library. Contact us to find out how to make a book donation.
Groups Who Need Yarn
Below is an alphabetical listing of groups accepting yarn and other donations. Note that most groups will make arrangements for pickup or drop-off of yarn donations.
OKG Members, log in to your member's page for the groups' contact information (link under "Guild Documents").
Non-members, contact us to request the groups' contact information.
ALGONQUIN COLLEGE
Yarn needs: small amounts of smooth, worsted weight acrylic preferred.This group can also use knitting needles, crochet hooks, accessories (scissors, darning needles, storage containers).
Contact location is in Hintonburg. Items must be dropped off.BARRHAVEN KNITTING GROUP
This group of about 20 knits for shelters, long term care facilities, hospitals (infant hats).
Yarn needs: baby yarn as well as worsted, bulky, chunky (#4, 5, 6).
Contact location is in BarrhavenLE CENTRE PAULINE-CHARRON
This group of 25 knitters meets weekly and supports 8 charities in east Ottawa with clothing, slippers and blankets for newborns to seniors. Over 1900 knitted items were donated in 2022.
Yarn needs: any washable yarn and cotton for dishcloths
Contact location is in the east end of OttawaGRANNY SQUARES FOR WARMTH
This group includes 40 knitters. The main projects are blankets for QCH baby unit and seniors’ and women’s shelters.
Yarn needs: acrylic or wool/acrylic blend #3, 4, 5, 6 (DK to chunky).
Contact location is in Barrhaven.OSGOODE OUTREACH KNITTING GROUP
The Osgoode Outreach Knitters is a knitting group within the Osgoode Outreach Seniors' Drop-In at the Osgoode Legion. There are about 5 knitters who have knitted scarves for the AIDS RedScarf Campaign and about 30 infant hats for the CHEO Neonatal Unit.
Yarn needs: various yarns for various community knitting projects.
Contact location is in Osgoode.SUNDAY AFTERNOON KNITTERS
Yarn needs: acrylic, wool, wool blends. No baby yarn.
Contact location is in Barrhaven.WEST CARLETON COUNTRY KNITTERS
This prolific group consists of about 80 knitters. The group started in 2009, since then almost 27,000 items have been donated to charity. In 2021 alone they donated over 5,100 articles. All using lovely donations of yarn. Many thanks to everyone who has donated yarn and needles.
Yarn needs: all types of yarn will be used.
Contact location is in Carp.