Kelly Jo Eldredge of Red Rocks Community College is pictured with some of the quilts for students who have experienced homelessness and will be moving into a shelter.

Knitting4Peace (K4P) is a creative nonprofit organization housed in the Park Hill Congregational United Church of Christ. Creative and compassionate volunteers across the U.S. make and deliver requested hand-crafted items to provide hope, comfort and support to marginalized or vulnerable people in local neighborhoods, as well as individuals in global areas of conflict or suffering. Since 2006 K$P has served more than 179,000 people in 82 countries!

K4P will hold a “Craftivism” Fundraiser, Nov. 2, from 2 – 5pm at the Park Hill Congregational Church, 2600 Leyden St. The event, with a $10 suggested donation, will include a silent auction, a yarn swap, guest speakers, live music, refreshments, Pece Pal Q&A, and a Peace Pod Meet & Greet.

Interim Executive Director of Knitting4Peace Mary Ellen Garrett and her dog Laddie are pictured with handmade lap blankets, baby blankets and adult and baby hats just before they were delivered to three local medical facilities.

In August, K4P made donations to three medical facilities: lap blankets and quilts to the UC Health Oncology Infusion Center; baby blankets and hats to the NICU at CU Anschutz; and adult hats to the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center at Rose Medical Center.

In September K4P put out a request to their volunteers to knit 15 quilts for Red Rocks Community College students who had experienced homelessness. Through a partnership between Red Rocks and Jefferson County Action Center, a new shelter will provide housing for 6-12 students—and K4P will give a handmade blanket to each student as they move into their new home. Mary Ellen Garrett, Interim Executive Director of Knitting4Peace, said by email the response from their supporters was far beyond expectations: “We asked for 15 blankets or quilts, and we received 51!”

People supporting Knitting4Peace can knit, crochet or quilt on their own, and donate items, or can meet up with a local “Peace Pod” to create the items. Visit www.knitting4peace.org for the location of peace pods and other information.

Information and photos provided courtesy of Mary Ellen Garrett.