Mark your calendars; Knit Michigan is next Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at Academy of the Sacred Heart, 1250 Kensington Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI. General Admission is $10 and covers the 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. event. Early birds can pay $15 to get in an hour early and shop before the crowds.
This once a year fundraiser supports cancer patients and their families by donating money and comfort items while allowing fiber lovers to gather to shop, learn and donate to others. Knitters and crocheters are very generous with their time in donating hand-made items like chemo caps, pillows, blankets and teddys.
Southeastern Michigan Crochet Guild, the first Michigan chapter of CGOA, made Knit Michigan their charity project for 2012. This small group of crochet lovers is donating over 50 hats to Knit Michigan for distribution to cancer serving organizations.
Knit Michigan offers a laundry list of classes include spinning class, several knitting classes and something as fun as making your own beaded bracelet. Are you a crocheter? Don’t worry; there are classes and fun for you too! Classes available include beginning crochet, Janus crocheted color work and Tunisian crochet.
The last day to register for classes is Wednesday, January 30, 2013. Be sure to read all the information on this page before paying for your class. Your class fee does not include the entry fee into the event. Final day to prepay admission is Thursday, January 31, 2013. Prepayment of admission allows you to enter through the “express lane”.
In addition to the fundraising, the event goals are to bring together fiber lovers, showcase Michigan yarn shops, and to teach fiber arts to children and adults. A list of all the venders supporting Knit Michigan can be found on this page. You will find many of your favorite tri-county yarn shops participating at this event. For more information view and print the brochure for a list of events and vendor location.
The following information is taken from the Knit Michigan website:
What is Knit Michigan?
Knit Michigan, a registered Michigan corporation, is a 501(c)3 charitable foundation.
Knit Michigan is an independent organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families with financial contributions, as well as by making and donating comfort items such as chemo caps and lap blankets to cancer patients.
These well-established cancer serving organizations have been chosen to receive the money raised via Knit Michigan activities. Here are a few words about how they put our money to work:
- Beaumont: The Knit Michigan donation provides support to the following Beaumont programs: afghan program supplies that enable comfort blankets to be made for our cancer patients undergoing treatment and to our inpatient hospice, financial support to our Rose Cancer Center patient resource library, and funds to provide assistance to patients in need, medications, medical supplies, prosthetics, etc.
- Karmanos: The Karmanos Cancer Institute is a unique, urban-based integrated center of research, patient care and education, dedicated to the prevention, early detection, treatment and eventual eradication of cancer.The funds raised from Knit Michigan are used for the Jessie Bernard Undercompensated Care fund at Karmanos Cancer Institute. Due to extended illness and inability to work, many cancer patients struggle to meet their day to day basic needs. These funds help to assist patients and their families in meeting financial obligations such as limited, temporary assistance to pay rent/mortgage, utility bills, buy groceries, toiletries, and other concrete daily living needs
- Genesys: Knit Michigan contributions have benefited hundreds of Genesys cancer patients in our community in ways that include: medication assistance, utilities assistance (gas, phone, electric), ramp assistance, room and board at Genesys Hospice Care Center, assistance in making rent or mortgage payments, assistance in paying taxes, funeral expenses, cobra payments, and Lifeline, floor repair and chore providers.
- Gilda’s Club: The money raised at Knit Michigan for Gilda’s Club goes to support our cancer support program. Program services ranges from support groups and educational lectures to workshops like quilting, yoga and guitar club. Our program is free of charge to anyone touched by cancer, so the donations help with supplies, handouts, food/beverages and our clubhouse needs. We have created a welcoming and friendly atmosphere that anyone needing time to relax will feel comfortable spending the day at.
- U-M: Proceeds donated by Knit Michigan benefit the Patient and Family Support Services (PFSS) Program at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. This remarkable program is home to over 30 different services designed to reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families facing diagnosis, treatment and recovery. From psychological counseling to symptom and pain management to nutritional assistance to art and music therapy, the PFSS Program steps in to provide the support needed to survive – and thrive – throughout the cancer journey. As critical as these services are to patients and families, in most cases they are not covered by insurance. But thanks to the involvement of generous, caring donors, patients and families can benefit from these programs and services at little or no cost to them.
Why is it necessary?
Knit Michigan fills a need in the Michigan fiber-arts community for individuals to band together to work toward a common cause that has touched many of our lives. It provides an opportunity to give back and make a difference by doing something we love: creating and providing better situations for those we care about who must deal with cancer.
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