Places to Donate Yarn

My last post got me thinking about ways to de-stash.

Karen mentioned stash swapping, which I still think is a good idea, but a better idea, especially for those what-was-I-thinking yarns, acrylics, and unloved novelties, may be to donate the yarn. Knitting in Pink went the Freecyle route--there are Freecyles now in most big cities.

Here are some other ideas:

1. Craigslist You can list free yarn under the Free items section of the items for sale section.
   
2. Women's Shelters/Domestic Violence Shelters
3. Daycare centers
   
4. Schools---budget cutbacks have severely hurt art departments and many art teachers use a lot of their own $$ for art supplies
   
5. Headstart
   
6. Goodwill
   
7. Salvation Army
   
8. Group Homes/Nursing Homes/Care Facilities/Senior Centers often need projects for residents
   
9. Churches, especially those with large Sunday Schools or Youth Groups
   
10. Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts--Our Troop was always in need of projects and supplies. Contact your local council to donate.
    
11. 4-H
    
12. Warm Woolies (link on Sidebar) and other knitting charities will take yarn
    
13. Community Centers
    
14. Other re-sale charity shops--our humane society has one, other cities have different ones so that you can support your favorite charity
    
15. International Relief Groups, Applachian Charties, Native American groups, there are a varity of relief groups that assemble packages for impoverished areas
    

If you are making a large donation, go with a 501(c)(3) organization like Goodwill, Salvation Army, Girl Scouts, Warm Woolies that will give you a reciept that you can then use on your taxes. If you donate to goodwill or a resale shop, make their job easier by packing the yarn into clear bags by type (ziploc bags work great). Need more ideas? Google "donate yarn" + your city for more options.