Hi folks!
As you know, I like to make things. Correction, I love to make things. I bet you do too, after all, that’s why you landed on this crafty blog, right? You came here for a tutorial, a pattern, or a creative tip. You love to sew, crochet, and/or knit, just like me. You may even enjoy other crafts like scrapbooking, jewelry making, or candle making, etc…
And just like you and me, Dana Lardner, a California mom and philanthropist, also loves to make things. But one day, Dana decided to take her love of creating one step further. She wanted to combine her creative inspiration with her wish to give back to those in need. So she founded Goods Giving Back, a website dedicated to supporting non-profits through the donation and sale of handmade goods.
Handmade Goods for the Greater Good
Goods Giving Back provides a marketplace for Dana and other creative makers to sell some of the items they create while the proceeds go directly to a non-profit organization of their choice. The process is fully transparent so buyers never have to wonder if the funds actually made it the intended non-profit.
When I first learned about Goods Giving Back, I thought it was a brilliant idea and just had to be a part of it. So of course, I am a Goods Giving Back maker! That means you can find some of my handmade goodies, as well as some fabulous items by other makers, in the Goods Giving Back marketplace.
Each of the organizations supported by Goods Giving Back is a small, U.S. based non-profit where even the smallest of donations can make the biggest difference. The proceeds from my donations currently support Silver Rescue, a dog and cat sanctuary and rescue. You can read more about Silver Rescue and the other great non-profits supported by the Goods Giving Back makers by clicking here.
Become a Maker
Crafters are also often collectors. You know what I mean. You have drawers, bags, cupboards, and shelves overflowing with yarn, fabric, beads, buttons, bows, ribbons, etc. You tend to find needles, hooks, and other crafting tools in or under the couch, spread out over the dinner table, in your purse, or even tucked behind your ears. You have piles of projects. Some finished, some unfinished, some are gifts, some you forgot about, and some you meant to give away, but never did.
And even though you have all this stuff, you still can’t pass up that yarn or fabric you saw on sale at JoAnn’s. So you collect more stuff. Hey, I’ll be the first to admit that I am guilty of this. My craft stuff is my biggest clutter problem and I can’t seem to stop it from growing because I just can’t pass by that great deal without buying something!
One of the best things about Goods Giving Back is that it gives me a reason to use up all that stuff and it gives me a way to let all the completed stuff go. I can feed my craft addiction without overloading my craft space.
I use my craft supplies to make something and then put on Goods Giving Back. The item then gets purchased by someone who wants it and a non-profit receives a much needed monetary donation! It’s a 3-way win-win!
Empowering Charitable Crafters
If making things to donate to nonprofits in need interests you, Dana also has a site to get you started and you can even become a part of The Create to Donate crew.
Create to Donate is dedicated to empowering crafters to create and donate their handmade items for the greater good. It’s part of the Goods Giving Back community and it’s where Create to Donate ambassadors, like me, offer information, tutorials, project ideas, and articles to inspire and encourage others to craft for a cause.
Its goal is to both teach and support those who want to be or already are charitable crafters. There are guides on how to get started in crafting for a cause, what to make, and where donations are needed. You can find out what inspires others to create and give, like in my article Knitting and Coffee Mean Love. There are even posts encouraging charitable support for the non-crafty, such as How to Support Literacy in One Easy Step.
I am grateful to be a Goods Giving Back Maker and a Create to Donate Ambassador. Dana has created something truly unique and inspirational out of her simple desire to create and give.
Isn’t it amazing how the greatest things often start out as a single heartfelt idea combined with someone’s will to make it happen?
Join us in giving for the greater good by becoming part of the Create to Donate Crew.
Click HERE
Until next time… Happy Crafting!
