The Greater Good

And so yes, the answer is I did not go anywhere at all.  The offer from the airline was, with heavy apologies (although it wasn't their fault), to give me a full refund or to rebook me.  All the flights were oversold for the next day, so I thought there would just be too much frustration involved in getting up at the butt-crack of dawn, as Claudia put it, and sitting around hoping to fly standby....and then take my chances about catching a connecting flight to Salt Lake City. It was starting to feel a bit ridiculous, and a nice four-day weekend, plus travel, was becoming mostly PLUS TRAVEL.

I was on the phone with Margene trying to make the decision "refund or rebook -- final answer," and as she so wisely put it, "This is supposed to be FUN, and it can't be fun when there is so much hassle, uncertainty, and worrying." So we're going to do it -- just not right NOW.  We think in the spring. ---------------------- Child's Large Mission Falls 1824 Superwash Wool (denim)
and Cascade 220 Superwash (red)

This is my fourth pair for the Soaring Eagles Project, and (at the very last minute) fulfills the pledge I made. I had lofty ideas that I'd squeak in one more pair while on my flight to SLC, but, well, you know how that turned out.  If I hadn't been having so much fun in the airport, I could have done a pair there, but the laptop and the cell phone and the chatting with my fellow passengers were keeping me too busy.

Sadly, Rachel is far, far short of her goal -- so far short that it seems like it'll be impossible to meet it.  The deadline is Monday, and unless many, many mittens (over 200 pairs) arrive at the very last minute, she will not be able to give her hoped-for Christmas mittens to the children at her school, all of whom are underprivileged.  To add insult to injury, her area has just suffered through a big ice storm. 

This saddens me.  Many of us tried our hardest, but there was not the response this year to the charity knitting plea that we've come to expect.  I posted about this project several times, and so did several of my fellow bloggers, and Carole and Margene chose Soaring Eagles as a favored project in their Knit Unto Others project.  Rachel and I posted about it on Ravelry in the Greater Good group, but I got absolutely no response -- I can't speak for Rachel. I know we are all busy, and believe me, I know from busy, as they say.  But I'd like to think we could do better for others. It saddens me when I see people put so much energy into enhancing their stashes, knitting the three-dozenth pair of socks for themselves, and forming groups on Ravelry or whatever, and then see this paltry showing for someone (Rachel) who is trying in such earnest to help some kids who really need things and really appreciate the thought of receiving a handknit. If only a fraction of that energy were put into knitting one pair of mittens for a needy child, think how much warmer everyone would feel. 

I'll be frank (that's a switch, ha):  I expect the silence to this post to be deafening.  I've gotten used to it whenever I post about charitable knitting.  And now, when I have the chutzpah to pair it with a good dose of sermonizing and holier-than-thou-ing, I probably deserve it.  But I'm feeling a good bit sorry for myself these past couple of days, so I'm just going to leave it on the page and not edit it out.  Or perhaps rather than anticipate silence, I should fear some sort of backlash. Go ahead. Make my day.

I'm gonna go to the gym and see if someone down there wants to be pummeled. I need to punch and kick someonething.

Comments

[Elizabeth D]

Norma, I have the unfortunate position of trying to run our group, Knitting for Neighbors, within a not terribly generous knitting guild. I know how you feel.

[Debi]

I knit almost exclusively for others - not all for charity but for friends and family. I love charity knitting but because of other commitments this year I was only able to make monetary donations. Having never knit a mitten in my life I do agree with Mary B, somehow a mitten is a bigger (brain cell) commitment than a scarf, kitty blanket or afghan square. Combine that with the somewhat short notice and the may account for the poor showing for Rachel.

I have some socks I had earmarked for another charity but I'm off to see if they'll meet Rachel's needs and if so, they are all hers.

[Tammy]

Wow I feel so badly. I've never knit a mitten and didn't think I would have time or immediatte skill in time to get a pair done. I really like the idea of doing a pair a month and had already made up my mind to do one charity a month in 2008. I've already started my Afghan for Afghans and have purchased wool for Warm Woolies and have blankets started for Project Linus. Some of my issues are actually clearing the prjects off the needles and getting them shipped. I think that having a monthly charity will help me do that since I finish things better when facing a deadline. Maybe red scarves in September and Soaring Eagles in October? I also knit a helmet liner for a soldier this year and really should have gotten it done earlier in the year so it would have been received before the weather got bad. I'm not on Ravely, but lurk a lot of blogs and it would be SO helpful for guidance on when all the deadlines are. Just a thought. I really appreciate blogs like yours that keep me motivated to knit for charity - please keep up the good work. And don't ever give up your faith in the human spirit and generosity - it's a powerful tool. T

[jenifleur]

Yep. Well, I'm one of the ones who barely pulls her weight. I did some things this year for local donation and that's about it. When I first started knitting I did a lot more charity stuff, but my time for knitting [cleaning, blogging/commenting, skirting fleeces for milling, playing with my dog, gardening, visiting my family, paying bills, sleeping, yoga, cooking, you name it] has been severely curtailed. However, I would be less than honest if I didn't admit that I'm just not a good charity knitter anyway. For some people who normally are, I wonder if the lack of a major disaster this year had an impact? I've heard that Red Cross suffers a dearth of donations unless people are moved by some great tragedy. At any rate, I'm sorry about your frustration over this and I do understand. Maybe there needs to be a 2008 KAL where for every stash enhancement you make, you must *also* commit to knitting something for charity. Some undecided/unknown/to be announced charity that pops up during the difficult time of year so you already have several items to donate and no excuses. A sort of Bank of Karma KAL. Look at my keyboard writing KAL checks my hands can't cash..

[Kae]

Between my back trying to fuse itself today, dislocating my shoulder and having it not heal correctly for some freak reason, the military completely screwing up every plan I had from June on, and being unemployed for 5 months... I have no stash left.

Seriously. I sold off everything except 1 batch of tweed yarn that I bought two years ago and my STR stash in order to pay bills. The only thing I have left is fiber, and until recently I was even unable to spin. I knit two pairs of socks this year, and a mini calorimetry for my daughter.

I can't donate to charity... because in 90% of the cases, I *am* the charity. I live from unemployment check to unemployment check, trying desperately to find a job. I can't afford to buy yarn. Hell... I can barely keep my own lights on.

[Lisa C.]

It is my understanding that charity is down all over. Just before Thanksgiving, it was announced that our local food banks did not have enough to lay out their usual spread. At the store where I teach knitting, I was asked to set up a monthly charity knitting group. On the third Saturday of every month, for the last year, I have been there waiting. To date, no one that does not work for our shop has shown up. If it is true that we are judged by how we treat the least among us, we, as a society, are not impressing anyone at the moment. For myself, I too have time, familial, and financial constraints (in the current economic climate, doesn't everyone?). The way I handle that is to pick one or two charities that are close to my heart and give what I can to those. Each year I do something for Shielas Shawls. This year I did hats for Afghans for Afghans. Last year I did scarves for the Operation Gratitude. I truly believe that if we all pick the causes that we feel close to, and give what we can, that all worthy causes would get what they need.

[DebbieB]

Hey, hon - can we still send mittens? I interrupted my Christmas knitting to quick-knit a pair, and I'd love to send 'em if it'll help. I do my charity knitting for CIC (and I used to do Dulaan) but I'm glad to help with an SOS.

[beverly]

I'm sorry the goal wasn't met. Charity knitting--well, all knitting--takes me a long time. I'm a slow knitter. So I'm pretty happy to have donated a pair of socks and a hat to other organizations needing knits. I'll continue to plod along at my tortoise pace and donate what I'm able to make each year. There is so much needed that it is hard to know where to send things, but I usually decide that based on the recommendations/ promotions made by bloggers I read. I've got to learn to knit faster, I guess!

[Sunflowerfairy]

Know what I think? I think in July of next year I'm going to start the begging for warm woolies from people.

In my experience knitters run themselves thin in December- from either holiday and/ or charity knitting, family events, exams, etc.

But in July- that's the time to get 'em. Think about it- wouldn't it be great to knit a quick hat or 10 at that time of year? Who wants to knit wool sweaters on the beach...well, besides me?

Sorry it's been hard to reach the goal.

[Katherine]

Norma, I didn't weigh in with everyone else. But I still want to, so netiquette be damned!

I've knitted for charity exactly twice -- both times for the Red Scarf Project. It was all right for me, but honestly, I decided to quit about a year ago. I just don't feel like knitting for strangers is the right kind of contribution for me. Knit on, woman. You're a bitchin' charity knitter, but I'll just watch, thanks.

But that doesn't mean your efforts haven't made a change in me. Since dropping the charity knitting, I've been thinking a lot more about other ways to contribute. This year my family will be focusing on Refugee Services. If someone needs a hand-knit, then great! I can do it. But I think it's likely that my dollars and time can go further otherwise. I want you to know you have a part in that, long-distance-like.

[Sue]

I'm sorry about your trip, Norma. Poo. I totally hear you about charity knitting. While I have yet to actually knit anything for myself (seriously!), I think sometimes I spin my wheels too much and could be using my time more effectively and more efficiently -- and this extends far beyond knitting. Recently I've been doing some sewing, too, and I think this is also an excellent venue in which to share time, talent and warmth (literally and figuratively) to and for others. I hope to be able to expend more time in both of these directions in the coming year.

Have a most blessed and merry Christmas!

[Kat with a K]

A few thoughts...

1) I tend not to do charity things that require things being mailed to faraway places, because I know I am bad at actually getting to the post office and getting them there on time. Therefore, I knit for a charity close to home and pretty much ignore the big online charity knitting drives.

2) I think December is a really bad time for this sort of thing, because everyone is stretched thin both with money and time. I think my goal for next year will be one charity item per month. Even if they're knit in July, it's not like they'll go bad before it gets cold out.

Just my take on it!

[minnie]

as you know, norma, the lion's share of my knitting is for charity. i did see about the soaring eagle project, but i've had to learn to say no. i get to the point where i want to give to each and every project, and end up stressing myself out trying to keep up with it all, and i go crazy. while i do feel bad that rachel's kids didn't get all the mittens for christmas, i did help out some kitties, and a baby who's never going to see her daddy, and a few other projects.

as much as i wish i could do it all, i can't. sorry!