July 2025 Newsletter

Join us for the Create-A-Thon between August 4-18, 2025

Hi friends-

How can it possibly be the end of July and the beginning of the Create-A-Thon?!

This is the last official newsletter before the Create-A-Thon begins on August 4th and I truly hope you all are planning to join us for some aspect of the event. As you know, it is a big fundraiser for us (the biggest in fact) but we also want to build community and refill our storage bins for the next 6 months. 

This year we need to raise $7,500! Each financial supporter of the CAT will be entered into a drawing to win one of several amazing door prizes!  

While this is a MAJOR fundraiser for Knitting4Peace and funds raised during this event help us continue our mission, we know that not everyone can support us with a financial gift. That's why this year we are putting EXTRA emphasis on sending in items.  

During the Create-A-Thon we are making a call for the following 3 items: 

• kid's hats
• kid's scarves
• Peace Pals 

Each donation of items sent to our Denver HQ between July 1 and September 1 will be entered to win a door prize!  Winners will be randomly selected in September and we will send you a prize.  We have tote bags, great mugs, yarn, notions bags, and more!  

The Create-A-Thon (August 4-18, 2025) is a virtual event held on Givebutter, a safe donation site where you can donate to help support the mission of K4P. This is the time to ask your church groups, coffee friends, and family members to support the nonprofit you care so deeply about. There won't be awards for highest fundraiser this year, but instead ALL who donate are entered into the prize drawing set to take place in September. You can start donating early by going HERE. 

 *New Event Announcement*

August 18, 4pm (MDT) and then the 2nd Tuesday of EVERY month

We are so proud to welcome you to the new K4P Community Craft Circle. 

We are kicking this off on the last day of the CAT, but this will be a monthly virtual event meant to build community within K4P.  You can come and share what you are creating or come and make a new friend.  We all have so much in common and want to see a better world, so let's get together and chat about it. There is no reason for a loneliness epidemic within our community.

To get the link and the dates of our Craft Circles, please go HERE.

The link will be emailed once you register. 

Above: Join us August 4th for a conversation with Hannah Thiessen Howard, the editor of By Hand Serial, an independent magazine dedicated to telling the stories of makers and the places they call home. REGISTER HERE

Below: On August 14th we will learn two NEW finger puppet patterns with Ravelry creator, Natasha. REGISTER HERE

This year the CAT will have 2 FREE WORKSHOPS and they are AMAZING!  The first is a talk with Hannah Thiessen, one of the creatives behind By Hand Serial. This journal explores different travel locations and the creatives who live there. We will also have a Finger Puppet workshop with Ravelry maker, Natasha. This is your chance to meet the other change-makers in the K4P community.  You can register for those virtual events NOW by going HERE.

Over the past 2 years of the CAT, you have helped us provide for the vulnerable of our community and you have always helped us surpass the fundraising goal.  Can we do it again?  I absolutely think so!  

Thank you and see you in a few days!

Kelly

PS. Don't forget about our merchandise store on Bonfire.  Proceeds go to support our mission and you can find adorable things like this baby onesie!  (Don't worry, we have crochet too!) Go HERE to purchase! 

Community Member of the Month:

Kim Moultney, K4P Board Chairperson, Maker, and Volunteer

This month, we’re excited to highlight Kim Moultney, the amazing chairperson of our Knitting4Peace Board of Directors. This energetic member of the K4P team taught herself to knit as an adult and found it to be a great pastime when sitting with her husband who is an avid Avalanche hockey fan and enjoyed watching their many games on television. Kim was able to do something she loved while keeping her hands busy. 

In 2014, Kim began making items for Knitting4Peace, with mittens as her specialty. (You can check out her mitten tips in the K4P SMitten with Mittens Event video on YouTube!) A few years into her knitting journey Kim met Mary Ellen Garret, who was then director, and began helping out with making stickers, brochures, and other K4P housekeeping items. It wasn’t long before she was recruited to help out with Intake and she continued as a vital Intake volunteer until her move to Trinidad in southern Colorado.

Kim joined the Knitting4Peace Board of Directors in 2022 as she wanted to continue working with Knitting4Peace and was eager to learn more about the organization. Her strong background in education has influenced her commitment and her focus as a board member for Knitting4Peace. Kim was quite inspired by all she learned from Erica McWhorter, K4P’s past Board Chair and wants to build on that legacy. She found that there was lots of work to do, but it has been worth the investment of time. Kim became the Board Chair in 2024 and her major goal is to build and embrace our diverse community, while being as inclusive as possible. 

In August, Kim will take a significant step to foster this important sense of community for Knitting4Peace as she begins hosting a free, monthly K4P Crafting Circle via Zoom. This will be a knit/crochet/craft night, similar to what local yarn shops do. It is an informal way for everyone to meet and get to know each other. Participants are welcome to chat, talk about they are making, share patterns, and ask questions. 

The sessions will run the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 4 - 5 pm (RMT) via Zoom.  They are open to all who are interested and you do not need to be making an item for K4P in order to participate. The first session will take place during the Create-a-thon. Please see the link in the monthly newsletter.

At the conclusion of our interview, Kim was moved to share the following “words of gratitude” with our K4P Community: “I am so appreciative of our K4P community. Without our makers, our donors, our volunteers, our community partners, and our staff, we could not achieve the K4P mission. We are so blessed to be supported by such a talented, dedicated, and caring community.”

Thank you, Kim! We are truly fortunate to have you helping to lead the way into the future for Knitting4Peace.

Consistency is Key: Peace Pals, Youth hats and scarves

For this year’s Create-a-thon, August 4th-18th, we are asking our makers to help fill our bins with children’s hats, scarves, and Peace Pals so that we will be able to meet as many requests for these items as possible this fall. Thank you in advance for helping us meet this need! Please see the photos of some special thank you letters from children about how much it means to receive K4P donations.

For more info on this items check out Item Requests below!

Above: A child's thank you note mentioning they weren't able to get a scarf.  You can fix this! 

Create-A-Thon Requests: Peace Pals & youth-size hats and scarves

Item Requests: Peace Pals & Hats and Scarves in youth sizes

Children’s hats: 

-All hats must be washable, and a MINIMUM of 13” or larger. 

-Toddler hats are typically 18”-19” circumference. 

-For children ages 3-10, the circumference should be 19” to 20”. Warm hats in bright colors are preferred.

-Hats for older children and teens are typically 21”-21.5” in circumference.

-Although there is some variation in sizing charts, here is a detailed chart that you might find useful: https://blog.lionbrand.com/hat-size-guide/

-Please do NOT send premie hats or infant hats smaller than 13” in circumference. We do not receive requests for small hats and just have nowhere to send them.

Children’s Scarves:

Scarves for children should be warm, washable (not wool!) and all colors are welcomed. They should be between 4”- 6” wide and 42”-55” long. We currently have plenty of adult scarves but we really need more small scarves for children. 

Peace Pals: 

-For many children, one of the most important aspects of Peace Pals is that they are able to “see themselves” in the Peace Pals they receive.  Because of this, we ask that all Peace Pals have realistic skin tones and eyes. 

-A few additional reminders as you make Peace Pals:

--All Peace Pals must have friendly faces, with smiles! No “x” eyes or button eyes!

--Pals should be between 5-7” in height.

--Peace Pals should have realistic skin tones and eyes. Many of our experienced makers recommend using Skein Tones from Lion Brand. 

--Hair color-- anything goes and Peace Pals with wild hair colors, as well as more typical hair colors in a variety of styles, are welcome. 

--Peace Pals with glasses and those with hijabs are always in high demand. If making a Pal with a hijab, it’s most helpful when they are sent in together.

-Specific instructions for both knitted and crocheted Peace Pals may be found on our website at Peace Pal Patterns

You may also view a video on making the faces for Peace Pals on the K4P YouTube Channel

The Fine Print: 

*Customers must have a registered King Soopers or City Market loyalty card account to link to your organization.

*If you do not yet have a King Soopers or City Market loyalty card, they are available at the customer service desk at any King Soopers or City Market

REMEMBER, purchases will not count for K4P until after your register your loyaltycard.

You must swipe your registered King Soopers or City Market loyalty card or use the phone number that is related to your registered King Soopers or City Market loyalty card when shopping for each purchase to count.

BIG NEWS! 

Knitting4Peace is now enrolled into the King Soopers or City Market Community Rewards Program.

Our assigned Kroger NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number is HL532.

To Use the King Soopers or City Market Community Rewards Program:

Simply visit the appropriate link below for your store: 

For King Soopers Stores - go to http://www.kingsoopers.com

For City Market Stores - go to http://www.citymarket.com

Once logged into your King Soopers or City Market account you can search for Knitting4Peace either by name or HL532 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a loyalty card.

Please note:

Our donation intake is run solely by volunteers. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to immediately acknowledge each package as it arrives. Remember, you can always track your package with your carrier.

Remember, mailing costs qualify as tax-deductible nonprofit donations. Keep your receipts!

Due to a lack of storage, K4P cannot accept yarn donations unless they are new and still in the original wrapper.

Thank you for understanding.

Mail or bring items to: 2600 N. Leyden St., Denver, CO 80207

Drop-Off hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9am-12pm 

The church is no longer staffed by an assistant so please be sure to go during the timeframe mentioned above.

Ring the doorbell and you will be let into the church to drop off your items.

EACH mailed box or dropped-off bag must include a note with the DATE, NAME, MAILING ADDRESS, E-MAIL, AND PEACE POD.

Did you make a local delivery this month? Click the button below to report it and don't forget to send pics!  

Special thanks to Park Hill Congregational Church for their continued support and allowing us to share their space in Denver.

HAVE A QUESTION ON HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING? ASK ARNA!

Are you ready to support the mission of Knitting4Peace?

Donate using the button below!

Contact Arna@knitting4peace.org 

with questions about patterns and guidelines.

Check out our social media posts for the latest news (links below).

If you have questions about deliveries or donations please email info@knitting4peace.org. 

ALL donations sustain our work. Donate online or mail checks to:
2600 Leyden Street, Denver, CO 80207

Donations to Knitting4Peace are tax-deductible.

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