Beyond Knitting
Let’s Go, Knitters—Knit for Food Is Back!
Hello everybody,
An amazing fundraiser in the knitting community is back for an incredible fifth year, and it’s time for us all to pitch in.
Started by designer and teacher Laura Nelkin, Knit for Food. External Link. Opens in new window. is a 12-hour knit-a-thon that raises money to relieve hunger in our nation and world.
A lot of money.
In 2021, over $265,000. (Dollars!)
In 2022, over $271,000. (Cash money!)
In 2023, a cool $340,000!
In 2024: $379,000!
Doing the math, that’s over $1.25 million dollars raised by goodhearted knitters. Well done, knitters!
This year, with just days left before the day of the knit-a-thon (this Saturday, April 5), Knit-A-Thon fundraisers have already raised over $300K—so we’re well on our way to demolishing past records.
Something to think about: if every knitter chipped in, at any level big or small, Knit for Food could easily raise more than a million dollars in much-needed food relief—this year alone. Let’s make it happen!
Where does the money go?
The funds raised are divided equally among 4 organizations, each of which has a proven track record of alleviating hunger and food insecurity. They are charities that you may already know and support, and now you can support them with your fellow knitters. Click on their links to learn more:
Feeding America . External Link. Opens in new window.
World Central Kitchen. External Link. Opens in new window.
No Kid Hungry. External Link. Opens in new window.
Meals on Wheels. External Link. Opens in new window.
What is the knit-a-thon?
A heck of a party will happen on April 5—this Saturday!—with myriad ways to get together virtually and in person, wherever you live.
But they had us at “12 hours of knitting.” You can attend a public meet-up or a giant Zoom, or you can just stay home, feet up and needles blazing.
New This Year: Team MDK!
This year we decided to take the plunge and set up our own fundraising team. We proudly present: Team MDK.
We’d love to have you among the Team MDK supporters and donors, but the important thing is to support Knit for Food in any way that feels good to you. Feel free to throw in with any of the Knit for Food fundraising teams, or start your own! The money that is raised all ends up in the same places, doing the same good deed: feeding people who would otherwise go without.
. External Link. Opens in new window.:
Want to be inspired?
We all can think of a loved one who made sure others were fed. We can remember them by supporting Knit for Food.
If you’re moved to leave a comment, we’d love to hear about someone in your life who helped feed those in need. We’ll go first: Kay’s Most Moisturized Mom was a reliable source of sloppy joes and spaghetti and meatballs for a generation of North Omaha roughnecks, boys now in their 60s who still remember her famous dessert: hot Jello chocolate pudding served straight out of the pan over ice cream. MMM’s expanding supper table is exactly the spirit behind Knit for Food.
Thank you, Laura! Thank you, every single Knit for Food fundraiser, donor, and knitter! We can’t wait to see what Knit for Food accomplishes this year—we’re all behind you, knitting for food.
Love,
Ann and Kay
Ahhh yes!
Kay’s MMM… (insert big heart)
My Mum-mum (maternal grandmother) & one of my original knitting/crocheting/sewing/tatting teachers)!
Mum-mum was renowned for stretching next to nothing into a feast to fill an ever expanding table full of hungry working bellies! She *HAD* to. She was widowed at 32 years of age, with 6 kids, at the tail end of the great depression/early days of WWII when nobody (not named Vanderbilt, Rockefeller or Carnegie that is) had very much.
I learned a lot more than knitting sitting at her knee.
I learned to welcome any & every person who came to the door.
I learned the value & necessity of “waste not want not”, especially when picking leftovers from a chicken or turkey carcass!
I learned to keep a backyard garden.
I learned to can/preserve the produce from the backyard garden.
This list could go on & on & on& on…
Suffice it to say, THANK you Mum mum, THANK you MMM & THANK you Laura Nelkin (and Lola too)!!!
I learned that a well stocked root cellar is not only a thing of beauty (tasty tasty beauty), it is also a testament to love and security for family and community.
The root cellar! What wonderful memories of a lady of tenacity!
So while we’re sittin and knittin, wouldn’t we gladly donate the price of a skein of yarn to help provide food for those who are hungry? The process is easy. I didn’t even have to move the sweater in my lap.
Have already signed up, hit my goal for donations and planned my projects for this amazing event. Setting up three “stations” with projects so I can move around a bit and continue to craft for 12 hours!!! So excited! Thanks for all of your support of my knitting/crafting. MDK is my daily affirmation.
I never thought I’d see the day that World Food Kitchen would set up close to me but when Hurricane Helene hit out area they were one of the first groups to show up in Asheville and got to setting up a potable water supply and started feeding residents and workers. Angels with aprons.
With recent federal shenanigans we are seeing Food Bank inventory diminished and this affects Meals on Wheels, After School Programs and local church programs. Knit for food takes on a new sense of purpose this year.
World Central Kitchen was here in LA during the terrible January fires, the very night they started. They are still offering support near us (we live close to where the Eaton Fire was), since so many families are still struggling to find stable housing. They’re a great organization.
Angels with aprons.
Is there a Canadian Site as we probably can’t use a tax receipt if made in US Funds.
There are plenty of food banks needing increased donations in Canada. Then you could achieve the same purpose, ie feed hungry people, and get a tax receipt which will work in our country. That’s what I plan to do. Thanks for the nudge, MDK!
We have Meals on Wheels in my little town but one could do their bit for the local food bank.
Since I’m recovering from my first bout with Covid ever (a bolt from the blue) and can barely stay awake for twelve hours straight, much less accomplish anything, I donated instead. Go team MDK!
The good that comes from knitting and the knitting community just keeps on growing
Done. Thanks for making it easy to donate.
Wonderful cause. Donation made. Back to knitting. Thanks, MDK.
With the decreased funding from the Federal Government your state Food Bank can use some help also. Oregon Food Bank said they are in dire straights thanks to Must and the Musketeers who think that buying surplus food and giving it to the poor and needy plus hungry kids is a waste of federal tax dollars. Contact your state food bank and see if they could use some help also.
Thank you for the easy link! I donated in memory of my mom, who was a great cook. In addition to keeping our family well fed, she loved cooking for our college friends, especially the ones who were putting themselves through school. Many a hearty casserole was transported the 90 miles between home and our university…and her kitchen was always open for friends we brought home. ❤️ Go Team MDK!
I’ve made a donation only. Not available to do a 12 hour knit unfortunately. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Thanks so much Team MDK!
When my hands need a break from knitting I might have to fuel back up with some hot chocolate pudding over ice cream in MMM’s honor… an inspired dessert!
Thrilled you are knitting with us on Saturday! Go Knit for Food GO!
Thank you, Team MDK!! Knit for Food is near and dear to my heart. I had a patch in my youth where my brother and I ate government peanut butter from a can, and government cheese that came in a big block, wrapped in cardboard. I remember going to school, waiting for lunchtime and wondering what I could find for a snack when I got home. These organizations do such good work – thank you all for joining this incredible fundraiser. This is my fourth year participating and I have a feeling our fundraising goal will be blown out of the water with MDK’s help! I’ll be knitting along with you on Saturday. xoxo.
Yes! Already signed up at my LYS–The Stitch House, Boston.
🙂
With the price of food rising we need to help people who can’t afford much of anything to survive and we also need to change our system so that people don’t go hungry and homeless.
Hope all is well at MDK!
Worried about Nashville during the tornadoes and flooding❤️
If you can, please give us an update.
This event conflicts with the April 5 protest against Trump-Musk. Many of us will be out protesting that day. Would it be possible to change the date? Or to add a note that people who cannot protest may want to do their bit of good in the world on this day?
Super simple garter stitch projects let you knit while walking/protesting!!
Whadya think Kay? PRotest knitting calls for….
LOG CABIN!!!!
Log Cabin to the rescue, every time!
Good idea!
After a nightmare divorce I had a daughter to put through college and I was an experienced RN. Then I became disabled and unable to support myself. My mother paid my rent and I was on food stamps and energy assistance. I enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation program for medical coding but found the program to be inept beyond words. When my mother died she left me more than enough money to live very comfortably and I am forever grateful not to have to worry about money at the age of 72. I had gone from being married to a physician to being on welfare. I have always been generous and now even more so. My mother had us serving at the Salvation Army for the Holidays and taught us the importance of giving.
Thanks for coordinating all of this!