Sewing for Charity (where to donate quilts!) 2025
If you are a keen sewer or quilter chances are you’ve wondered if you could be using your skills in a meaningful way to benefit others.
There is a point in everyone’s sewing or quilting journey when you run out of friends and family who haven’t already received a quilt or other sewn gift from you.
This is often when sewers think about sewing for charity or making charity quilts.
I know personally that I have found it difficult to find up-to-date information about which charities are accepting items and how to send them to them.
So this guide is my attempt to provide up-to-date links (this post is updated regularly as new information is received) to make it easier for you to start sewing for charity.
The majority of my readers come from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. So below you will find sections for each of these countries with links to charities that we know are currently accepting donations of sewn items.
Use the hyperlinks below to jump to the section you are interested in.
This post contains affiliate links – please see my disclosure policy for more details.
Table of Contents
If you know of a charity that should be on this list but isn’t please email me the details at [email protected]
Also – if you notice any contacts or info on this list that is out of date do also get in touch!
Sewing for Charity – UK
Siblings Together
Siblings Together is a charity that runs summer camps and activity days to help siblings separated (primarily through the care system) to spend time together in a holiday setting.
The charity’s group of quilting volunteers provide quilts for the siblings to take home with them to remember their time together.
Click here for more information about donating a quilt.
Sew Powerful
Sew Powerful is a Christian ministry supporting girls in Zambia to stay in school all month long by providing reusable sanitary products and these Sew Powerful purses to carry them in. When girls receive a purse full of supplies they take a pledge to stay in school all month long.
Sew Powerful welcomes seamstresses from around the world to make these purses and provides two patterns on their website.
Project Linus UK
Project Linus UK aims to provide a sense of security and comfort to sick and traumatised babies, children and teenagers through the provision of new homemade patchwork quilts and knitted blankets. The items are made by volunteer sewers, quilters and knitters across the UK.
The organization began in America in 1995 providing quilts to child cancer patients but it’s scope and geography has hugely expanded since then.
Quilts are taken in a range of sizes from baby quilts to wheelchair quilts and quilts for teenagers. See their website for all the current details.
Example Quilts:
Loving Hands
Loving Hands is a UK based community of knitters and sewers who make items for various charities. New members are always welcome.
Items Required:
- Premature Baby Clothes
- Double Bed Size Blankets
- Clothing for the Homeless
- Fiddle Mats
- Muffs
- Toys
- Bags to save Puffins
- Donations of: wool, fabric, stuffing, other sewing supplies.
Details of all the group’s work is on their website: http://www.lovinghands.org.uk/
The organiser to contact about what items are needed currently is Kate Gaunt at [email protected]
Bonnie Babies
Bonnie Babies is a non-profit voluntary organisation that makes and sends tiny premature clothes, blankets and sadly burial outfits to UK special baby care units, also to parents who need support.
Find all the details on the Bonnie Babies website or email the organiser Debby on [email protected].
The Donkey Sanctuary
The donkey sanctuary’s aims are to relieve the suffering of donkeys and mules around the world.
The charity has an active band of crafty volunteers who sew, crochet and knit soft toys that are sold to raise funds for their work.
Get all the details including patterns and contact information here.
Pyjama Fairies
Pyjama Fairies is the only UK charity to make pyjamas and surgical gowns specially designed for babies and children. Their goal is to create and distribute beautiful pyjamas and surgical gowns that give children an emotional boost and remind them that they are not defined by their illness.
You can find all the details about how to become a ‘Sewing Fairy’ on the Pyjama Fairies website.
The Pachamama Project
The Pachamama Project is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation making and distributing reusable sanitary pads to refugees around the world and growing a network of volunteers around the UK to make them.
The Pachamama team has a mission to combat period poverty in refugee crises and make sure having a period is not yet another challenge for these vulnerable people.
Contact the project at [email protected] or visit the website for more info.
Made4Aid
Made4aid raises money for Doctors without Borders by selling handmade arts and crafts, craft supplies and vintage handmade items. Anyone can donate items for sale. You can find out more about how to donate and where the money goes on their website.
Visit the Made4Aid Etsy Shop to see items for sale and more examples of the types of items accepted for donation.
Tools for Self Reliance
Tools for Self Reliance help to relieve poverty in Africa by providing tools that can help people earn a living. They need tools rather than handmade products.
Items Required:
- Haberdashery items – Cotton, thread, brocade, zips – etc
- Clean fabric in any size (not clothing).
- Manual Sewing machines with bobbins not shuttles – Singer 66 / 99 / 15 / 201.
- Electric sewing machines – older versions, non electronic
Visit the Tools for Self Reliance website for more information about the required items.
Call on 02380 869697 or email [email protected] to find out if there is a volunteer collector in your local area.
Making for Charity
Making for charity is a non profit organisation that provides ideas, resources and project advice for people who wish to support different charities through the production of craft items. So in essence Making for Charity can connect you to a range of local projects. Below is a summary of the wanted items currently listed on their website.
Items Required:
- Syringe Driver Bags
- Comfort Packs
- Personal Effect Bags
- 3D Masks
- Heat Pillow
- Headbands for masks
- Connection Hearts
You can find templates and instructions for how to make these items on the Making for Charity downloads tab (go to the drop down menu rather than the page itself).
IMPORTANT: Before starting with any project please email [email protected] to find out what is needed in your particular area.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Examples of items wanted:
- ‘Vetbed’ (specialist dog bedding)
- Cat toys
- Dog coats (especially waterproof ones)
Visit the Website for more details of what the charity would find useful.
Many local animal shelters may also be interested in dog and cat beds. It’s always worth getting in touch with your local animal shelter.
Quilt SOS
The Quilt SOS project’s aim is to co-ordinate the sewing and donation of lots of beautiful quilts so that we can give women and children, in times of need, something beautiful to treasure. The project coordinates with different charities supporting women and children in need each year.
Note: There are set deadlines, patterns and fabric requirements for this project so check the website first for all the details!
Cherished Gowns UK
Cherished Gowns UK is a charity that provides the families of babies that are stillborn, miscarried or pass away shortly after birth with items of clothing that they are able to be dressed in for their funeral.
All of the items the charity provides are lovingly made by volunteers around the UK, from donated Wedding Dresses.
Visit the website to find out how you can get involved.
Quilts for Care Leavers (Q4CL)
Quilts for Care Leavers is a group organized through a facebook group that takes donations of long lap quilt sized ‘hugs’ for young people leaving the child care system in the UK (includes but is not limited to foster care).
This group is an active community that also has sew days and accepts orphan blocks and also has a block of the month drive so you can still donate even if you are not up to making an entire quilt yourself.
At the time of writing, you can even donate quilt tops in the specified size and make a small donation to have one of their volunteer long-arm quilters finish the quilt for you!
You can find the main facebook group to request to join and get more information here.
Note: this group is one that has very specific requirements for the quilts they require so make sure to read all the instructions when you join before making your first quilt.
Sewing for Charity – United States
Quilts for Kids
Quilts for Kids is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming fabrics into patchwork quilts to comfort children facing serious illness, trauma, abuse or natural disasters.
Donated quilts are all made by volunteers and are comfort quilts so children can carry them around. Larger quilts received go to “Beds for Kids” in the Philadelphia area, a fantastic organization that provides beds, bedding, etc for children with no place to sleep.
Quilts for Kids also accepts local fabric donations of quilting fabric (100% cotton only in colors and prints that would appeal to children, no re-purposed curtains, etc.). They also run an annual appeal each year for donations to cover the cost of shipping quilts etc.
Main Contact: [email protected]
Webiste: http://www.quiltsforkids.org/
Ryan’s Case for Smiles
Ryan’s Case for Smiles is helping kids feel better so they can heal better by providing handmade pillowcases for children with cancer. Pillowcases must be made with all new material, 100% cotton, not laundered in scented detergents.
Find out more on the Case for Smiles website
Operation Christmas Child
Operation Christmas Child under its parent organization Samaritan’s Purse delivers little shoebox gifts to children all over the world. The program is part of their evangelistic outreach and their efforts in providing humanitarian aid in places where it’s needed. While Operation Christmas Child is not a sewing charity per se, there’s plenty of room to add handmade items into your shoeboxes.
Sew Powerful
Sew Powerful is a Christian ministry supporting girls in Zambia to stay in school all month long by providing reusable sanitary products and these Sew Powerful purses to carry them in. When girls receive a purse full of supplies they take a pledge to stay in school all month long.
Sew Powerful welcomes seamstresses from around the world to make these purses and provides two patterns on their website.
Snuggles Project
The Snuggles Project is all about providing comfort for animals in shelters. Their website has a range of patterns to knit, sew, crochet and even ‘no-sew’ a ‘snuggle’ that can be donated to an animal shelter to make those clinical environments friendlier for cats and dogs and help calm them down.
Quilts of Valor
Quilts of Valor offers healing to veterans through handmade quilts.
If you make a quilt for this sewing charity, it must be made of 100% shirting weight cotton and it should be machine or hand-quilted. Quilts of Valor expects that quilts donated to them be of great quality as a way to thank each veteran for his or her service.
Find out how to Make a Quilt of Valor
Quilts of Honor
Similar to Quilts of Valor, the mission of quilts of honor is to bestow a universal symbol and token of thanks, solace, and remembrance to those who serve in harm’s way to protect and defend our lives and freedoms.
Quilts of Honor are made by the loving hands of countless volunteers who wish to thank those who have served and to honor their service and sacrifice.
See the Quilts of Honor website for all the details of their requirements and how to get involved.
Sewing for Lives
Sewing for Lives is not for profit organization aims to provide basic medical supplies in high risk areas while reducing the carbon footprint by using repurposed materials.
Visit this page on their website to find out what the current need is from sewing volunteers for both mask and non-mask sewn donations.
Sharing the Weight
Sharing The Weight is a non-profit organization that makes and distributes weighted blankets to special needs children free of charge.
Weighted Blankets are helpful for children with autism as well as other conditions and the charity has a long waiting list of recipients.
Find out how to help on their website.
Project Linus USA
Proejct lInus is a non-profit organization with branches around the world. Project Linus provides new handmade blankets to children in need. Blankets & Quilts are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life and many different sources.
Find your local Chapter on the Project Linus Website
Warm Up America
Warm up America provides knitted and crocheted items to people in need at shelters, nursing homes, hospitals and more. They accept full blankets as well as sections of blankets.
Visit their ‘Current Needs’ page to find out what they most need to be donated now.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Started in the US, Ronald McDonald House Charities are now a worldwide organization.
Ronald McDonald Houses in different cities are a home away from home that provide comfort, support and resources to families who travel far from home for the medical care their child needs.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities are run in local chapters so you need to check your local area to see what type of donations they will accept.
The largest chapter in the US (Cincinnati) do have a page asking for donation quilts here.
Operation First Response
Operation First Response provides backpacks to wounded military personnel at combat support hospitals in theatre. The backpacks are given to the wounded when they arrive at the hospitals with no personal belongings.
Operation First Response Cot Quilts is always in need of handmade blankets and quilts (sizes may vary). Smaller sizes will be included in the backpacks sent to the wounded. Cot Size = 45×45 or 36×36. Larger sizes will be hand delivered to military medical facilities in the States
Contact [email protected] in the first instance to find out about the current need.
Sewing for Charity – Canada
Sewing Seeds Canada
Sewing Seeds is a Canadian-based charity empowering others to achieve economic independence through sewing skills training. Currently, the charity is active in coordinating mask-making efforts.
Find out how you can help here.
Blankets for Canada
Blankets for Canada is a non-denominational not for profit organization devoted to providing blankets to Canadians who need warmth.
Blankets can be knitted, crocheted or quilted and they primarily go to agencies providing support for Canadians without homes.
Find out how you can get involved here.
Project Linus Canada
Project Linus Canada aims to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need of a hug, through the gifts of new, handmade, washable blankets, quilts and afghans, lovingly crafted by volunteer “Blanketeers”.
Similar to the branches of Project Linus in the USA and UK there are various types and sizes of blankets & quilts that are accepted.
Visit the website for all the details about how to donate a blanket or quilt.
Our Social Fabric
Our social Fabirc is non-profit textile recycling initiative. While they aren’t looking for sewn donations if you are a sewer you might have other unused materials in your sewing room that you could donate.
Items accepted:
fabric donations of 1 meter length and more
- small pieces of quilting cottons (half meter) and leather (min 30 cm squares)
- sewing related items such as trims, sewing tools, notions, patterns, sewing books and the occasion functioning sewing machine.
Mito Quilts of Hope – Charity Quilts
Mito Quilts of Hope provides charity quilts to patients of Mitochondrial Disease in Canada and the USA. The charity is looking for quilts in particular colours including green.
Find all the details of the types of quilts required and how to register to provide one here.
Sew Powerful
Sew Powerful is a Christian ministry supporting girls in Zambia to stay in school all month long by providing reusable sanitary products and these Sew Powerful purses to carry them in. When girls receive a purse full of supplies they take a pledge to stay in school all month long.
Sew Powerful welcomes seamstresses from around the world to make these purses and provides two patterns on their website.
Hands Up Canada
Hands Up Canada offers help to Canadians living in poverty in uncertain times.
One of their projects is offering Baby Diaper Bag Layettes and Toddler Emergency Backpacks to women and children in shelters or going through economic hardship.
Hands Up Canada give these bags to local Toronto shelters and also to communities in northern Canada where the need is great.
In each backpack, they try to add at least one item that is homemade either knit, crocheted, or sewn.
Items requested include baby blankets, booties, sweaters, hats, baby quilts, bibs, sewn sensory infant books. Although the bags contain many essential items like diapers, pajamas, and toiletries a special handmade item sends a message of love to the recipient. Items can be dropped off locally in Toronto or Ajax or mailed to their Toronto location.
Zippaport
Toronto not-for-profit organization Zippaport provides port-accessible shirts for free to any child in Canada who is undergoing cancer treatment and requires port access.
Volunteers sew zippers from the neck through the chest to accommodate either a left- or right-side port. These customized shirts allow children to keep their shirts on during chemotherapy and blood draws, making treatment less stressful and more comfortable.
Zippaport is partnered with 16 children’s hospitals and four fellow charities across Canada, increasing the demand for port-shirts. This includes all four of Canada’s top children’s hospitals: Alberta Children’s Hospital, BC Children’s Hospital, SickKids, and Montreal Children’s Hospital.
Zippaport are looking for sewing groups across Canada that can sew 100+ shirts at a time, or individuals in the GTA that can sew smaller quantities of shirts.
Contact Louise at [email protected] or Visit the Website.
Comfy Cases
Comfy Cases is a Canadian non-profit organization that brings volunteers together to stitch fun, colourful pillowcases for children in hospitals with cancer or other life-changing illnesses. As a program of Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC), the charity is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and their families.
Hospital stays can be overwhelming for a child. Comfy Cases’ pillowcases offer a moment of comfort, colour and cheer during their hospital stay. Comfy Cases believe that every child deserves to smile. By creating and distributing pillowcases, Comfy Cases help children smile under the toughest of circumstances.
Top Tips for Sewing for Charity
- Make sure to double-check the specific requirements of your favorite charity to give you peace of mind that your donated items will be exactly what they are looking for.
- Questions to ask include: what are the best materials to use? do they have a specific time of year that collections are made? are there items that were popular in previous years that they haven’t got enough of this year?
- If you are time rich you can also ask if your chosen charity needs help with the collection or distribution of donated items.
More on Charity Quilts
- As most donated quilts will be intended for everyday use make sure you use a relatively simple pattern that can withstand lots of wear and tear without risk of seams popping open is usually best.
- Many charitable organizations will have their own library of easy quilt patterns that you can use that they now are suitable for the intended recipients.
- Lots of people like to piece quilts but not as many people like to quilt them. If you like this part of the process or you are a long-arm quilter you might find that organizations who organize quilters to make quilts would love your skills in finishing other people’s quilts – so truly charity quilting!
- Most quilt donations are made using our own fabric. So you are making an in-kind monetary donation in that way too. That said, see the point below. If you have the skills but not the money to buy fabric you might still be able to help! It’s always better to ask than to never know!
- Organizations that accept charity quilts usually (check first!) would also be open to recieving donations of quilting supplies including fabric, batting and thread.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the place you live isn’t covered in the list above you can try searching facebook for ‘donation quilts + ‘your town” and see if any local organizations come up.
If not, think about similar charities in your area to the ones listed above and give them a call. A local hospital, hospice, or homeless shelter might also know of charities in the area that donate to them and could point you in the right direction.
As mentioned above you could call local homeless shelters, or churches and charities with homeless outreach programs to see if a donated quilt would be helpful.
Try not to get discouraged if some places you phone are not interested. Charities are stretched for resources and sometimes the administration of organizing donations can be more than they can handle.
See the list of organizations above to see if any of the donated items they are looking for are something you feel you could sew.
Depending on which worthy cause you choose, you will find the need varies and even for the same charity you might find that needs change over time.
Looking for patterns for easy charity quilts? Check out my free patterns here (after you’ve checked the requirements of the charity you want to donate for!).
Do you know of another Charity looking for help from Sewers?
If you know of a charity that should be listed here or you think we have some out-of-date information on this page please get in touch so we can improve it! You can email me directly at [email protected]
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