Hats for the Homeless was created in memory of John Carroll, a young man who would annually gather his friends during the holiday season and, together with them, roam the streets of New York giving warm hats, scarves and gloves to the homeless. After John's sudden death in 1998, it became the mission of Hats for the Homeless to continue his tradition of bringing warmth and comfort to the less fortunate.

Through Hats for the Homeless, hats, scarves and gloves are collected throughout the year, gift-wrapped and distributed to a large population of urban homeless. The organization welcomes donations from anyone who would like to crochet, knit or purchase a new hat, scarf or pair of gloves to send them.

Wrapping donated gifts would be very helpful. For more information on Hats for the Homeless, visit their Web site at www.hats4thehomeless.org, e-mail them at info@hats4thehomeless.org, or write to Hats for the Homeless, 905 Main St., Hackensack, NJ 07601.

Hugs for Homeless Animals

Hugs for Homeless Animals (H4HA) is a multiservice, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless and displaced animals worldwide. Their popular Snuggles Project was established by H4HA president and founder Rae French in 1996 to provide security blankets, called "Snuggles," to shelter animals as a comforting reprieve from their hard, cold surroundings and to help them feel less alone.

The Snuggles Project asks for donations of handmade blankets to local humane societies and animal shelters. The blankets can be crocheted, knitted or sewn in the following guideline sizes: 14 x 14 inches (small), 24 x 24 inches (medium) and 36 x 36 inches (large). They may be cotton or acrylic in any color and should not have fringe that animals can chew off and swallow. Yarn or thread ends should be double-knotted and securely woven into the fabric. Snuggles are great projects for kids or people learning how to crochet, knit or sew because the blankets don't have to be perfect. The animals love them any way they can get them!

For more information about the Hugs for Homeless Animals organization, plus free crochet, knitting and sewing patterns to make Snuggles blankets, visit their Web site at www.h4ha.org.

Newborns in Need

Newborns in Need is a charity devoted to providing essentials for sick and needy premature and newborn infants whose mothers literally have nothing. Babies are going home from the hospital in nothing more than a disposable diaper, and sometimes "home" is a shelter for battered women or the homeless.

Founded in 1992 by Carol and Richard Green of Houston, Mo., Newborns in Need provides over 21,000 much-needed preemie and newborn items each month to individuals, medical centers, hospitals, homeless shelters, adoption agencies, sheriff's offices and food pantries throughout the United States. NIN gratefully accepts crocheted, knitted and sewn blankets, clothing, accessories, toys and other needs such as burial layettes, as well as donations of yarn, crochet cotton, fabric, flannelette, stuffing, batting, ribbon and sewing notions for NIN's 11,000 volunteers to use in making these items.

To find out how to help or get information on starting a local NIN group, visit their Web site at www.newbornsinneed.org, e-mail them at office@newbornsinneed.org, or contact Newborns in Need, P.O. Box 385, 112 West Main Street, Houston, MO 65483, (417) 967-9441.

Project Linus

Project Linus is a 100 percent volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing love, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade, washable blankets and afghans lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."

Founded in 1995 by Karen Loucks-Baker of Parker, Colo., and named after the blanket-carrying character in the Peanuts comic strip, Project Linus now has over 300 chapters in the United States and has delivered over half a million security blankets to children around the world. The project has been featured in leading magazines and on the Rosie O'Donnell and Oprah Winfrey shows. For more information and a listing of national chapters, visit their Web site as www.projectlinus.org, which also has links to numerous free patterns to make crocheted, knitted or quilted blankets. You may also contact them at Project Linus National Headquarters, P.O. Box 5621, Bloomington, IL 61702-5621, (309) 664-7814.

Warming Families

As a project of the One Heart Foundation, Warming Families is an all-volunteer service that delivers blankets, clothing and other warm items to the homeless, domestic violence shelters and nursing homes.

Warming Families receives no financial funding, and all donations of time and materials are given directly to helping needy recipients. Donated items may be purchased or handmade. The Warming Families Web site offers many free crochet, knitting and craft patterns to make afghans, blankets, toys, dolls and all types of warm clothing and accessories for all ages from infants to seniors.

For more information, visit their Web site at www.warmingfamilies.org, e-mail project co-founder Suzanne Osmond at suzanne@oneheart.org, or write One Heart Foundation, P.O. Box 400, Orem, UT 84057.

Warm Up America!

Warm Up America! is a project sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council of America that is dedicated to keeping people-in-need warm with handmade afghans and blankets. They ask for volunteers, working together with family, friends or groups, to crochet or knit 7 x 9-inch sections, assemble them into afghans and distribute them to needy recipients in their own communities.

When this is not possible, the Council will gladly accept donations of individual sections or strips needing assembly, or completed afghans. They also welcome entire afghans that are crocheted or knitted in any colors from any patterns. The Council distributes completed blankets to social service agencies who have contacted their office.

For more information on the Warm Up America! project, plus free crochet and knitting patterns for making afghan sections, afghan assembly tips, and basic crochet and knitting instructions, visit their Web site at www.warmupamerica.com. Donated items should be sent to Warm Up America!, 2500 Lowell Road, Gastonia, NC 28054.

Faith, Hope and Charity Stitches, Inc.

Faith, Hope and Charity Stitches, Inc. of Ohio is a Christ centered group of ladies giving from their hands. This nonprofit organization makes and distributes clothing, blankets, afghans, hats, booties, quilts, burial outfits, memory items and infant essentials to agencies across the state. Serving infants through five year olds and the families with needs based on size, medical need and economic need.

Their current wish list includes 36" x 45" quilts, receiving blankets, crocheted and knitted afghans, onesies and many other needed items. The full wish list is linked from the main page of their Web site.

Many of the volunteers have been involved in this charity work for months or even years. Their made-with-love deliveries are distributed to 17 different agencies, some of them once per month.

For more information on the Faith, Hope and Charity Stitches, Inc. project visit their Web site at www.faithhopeandcharityinc.com. See below for additional contact information.