A couple weeks ago, on a warm autumn afternoon, I spent a few hours helping sort, tag, and bag more than 300 hand-knit or crocheted blankets and about 200 toys—all for kittens. Say what? You heard me, for kittens. I recently became a volunteer with Knittins for Kittins (K4K), a non-profit organization whose members create handmade blankets and toys for our feline friends. The idea is that these items are distributed to cat rescues, who then give them to their cats and kittens to use while in care and to go home with them when they are adopted. The blankets have the cat’s smell on them and offer some comfort when they transition to a new place.
I serendipitously discovered K4K when I was visiting Chris MacPherson about Akashic Records. (That is another blog, completely!) She is the founder and driving force behind the Saskatoon K4K group. Chris loves animals and struggled to find time in her busy life to volunteer with any of the organizations dedicated to helping animals. She works full time, has a home-based business, a family, and several pets of her own.
“I had to find something that would connect with my life in a meaningful way and still be of service to the animal community. That’s when I learned about the original K4K group in B.C. After I gathered some information about their operation, I jumped in and started the Saskatoon “sister” group in January 2020; now, three and a half years later, we have over 450 members in our group! We also helped Yorkton create their own K4K group to serve rescues in that area of the province, and since they have fewer members, we often send some of our blankets to them for distribution!”
The group has expanded, and blankets go out to about many rescues in the province. “The awesome thing is that the Knittins rescue chat group allows rescues to connect with one another—share fundraisers, ask questions, seek help, and learn from very experienced people. To me, this has become even more important than the giving of the blankets. It has assisted about 10 rescues to connect in a safe place and share information, and there is nothing better than that! I love that this is a huge side effect of the original purpose of the group.”
We all know how important volunteering is, not only for the organization you decide to give your time and energy to but also for your own overall health. Volunteering connects you to others; it is good for your mind and body; it can give you the skills you need to pursue a new career or exercise your brain; and it brings fun and fulfillment to your life. At least it should. It is important that we pick the volunteer role that we are most suited for and one that resonates with us. If you volunteer for an organization that you do not share the same values with, you will not be fulfilled. You will end up frustrated, defeated, and possibly losing whatever interest you had in that area in the first place. It is okay to enjoy an activity without volunteering for the cause. Trust me. I found that out the hard way when I retired!
“For me, it is truly my love of animals that pushed me back into a path of volunteering,” says Chris. “There is so much need and so many good causes. I am grateful that my hobby of crochet can create something that others find meaningful. When we give to anything—to any cause of our choosing—in effect, what we are doing is living from a place of gratitude. When we volunteer, we do so from our hearts. We recognize others who have a particular need that we do not, and we can make the world a little brighter by helping others around us get what they need, no matter if the gesture is as small as a cat toy or as big as a blanket donated for fundraising.”
Volunteering is a wonderful and empowering way to spend your time, but it can quickly become all-consuming, even for those of us who are retired (or semi-retired). “I am so happy that I can volunteer and do some self-care at the same time. In the last few years, I have really needed to ensure that I am prioritizing myself. Filling my cup with the activities and people whom I love is my form of self-care (even when it doesn’t involve crochet or yarn shopping, lol!). Life is about balance. I truly believe that when we are blessed with a good life, we need to give back. When I work on my volunteer projects, I am also reminded that not all animals’ lives start out the best, but we can help change that. My cats are all from rescues (I have five), and it is a great feeling to know that some little kitty’s life has been made better because of me, and the blanket they have to sleep on will bring them comfort in a world where they most likely had a rough start.”
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most talented crocheter. In fact, I excel in the “frog stitch”. You know, “rip it, rip it”. Hahaha. But I am proud to say that I have now learned, thanks to K4K, how to turn a chain so that the piece ends up with straight edges and doesn’t turn into a triangle. Or, as one person pointed out, a replica of the province of Saskatchewan. Yep, that’s me. And I’m enough of a perfectionist that I am not going to hand in a weird-shaped blanket for a kitten. It must be good work. So, joining this group has taught me patience and how to get those edges right. It also gives me something to do when I’m sitting in front of the TV.
Chris echoes those sentiments. “I am lucky to be able to create small items that are deeply appreciated. The wonderful part is that I can make my creations when it works for me. On the deck, around a campfire, watching a movie, listening to an audiobook—I find time to crochet by fitting it around my personal schedule. Plus, it gives me an excuse to go yarn shopping! Sometimes I may be way more productive than other times—that’s the ebb and flow of life in general, and volunteering this way allows me to live within that flow. K4K has become like an extended family—the people who are attending the events, posting on our page, and making items for us really want to help the cats and kittens in need, and there is no better reason to volunteer than to help another.”
Yes, there are many groups out there begging for your time and energy. And as I said earlier, it is important to find one that aligns with your values. So read the fine print. Many of those groups require a time commitment or regular shifts. That is fine! Do it! But groups such as K4K don’t have those restrictions. So, volunteer with your local food bank or shelter. When you’re relaxing at night, pick up a hook and some yarn and see what you can do.
“This method of volunteering works out perfectly for me. During my “downtime” (of which I do not have a lot!) I get to be creative, and that is its own form of relaxation for me. Believe it or not, crochet allows me to de-stress from my job(s), disconnect from my social media, and offers me the opportunity to give back to the community. I know we are all busy people; we all lead hectic lives, and it seems there aren’t always enough hours in the day, but I would encourage everyone to find their “right place” to volunteer in the world. It does not have to be anything formal; it does not have to have set hours or specific times; just look for the place or type of volunteering that suits your lifestyle.”
To learn more about K4K, check them out on Facebook or send them an email.
Interesting Reads & Things
Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits – HelpGuide.org
12 Reasons Why People Volunteer – Positive Force Consulting
We move the world to protect animals. | World Animal Protection
Search for Animal Shelters & Rescue Groups | Petfinder
12 Ways to Use Your Crocheting & Knitting Hobby to Give Back 🎁 – YouTube
Charity Donation Tips and Guidelines | Knit, Crochet & MORE! – YouTube
Woman knits hundreds of blankets for cats in shelter – YouTube
Wanderings Art 
As one of the rescues that benefit from K4K, the time and effort these individuals put into giving this little gift is so beyond words. I hear back from adoptive parents about how nice that little blanket was to have during transition. And many say that it remains the favoured blanket of their pet. Amazing people doing an amazing thing!
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