CareWear Project
Our mission is to not only provide lovingly hand-knit and crocheted winter items to families and individuals going through hard times but to also provide an opportunity for seniors, who are often homebound, an opportunity to utilize their gifts and be able to give back to those in need.
About CareWear Project
Mission: Our mission is to not only provide lovingly hand-knit and crocheted winter items to families and individuals going through hard times but to also provide an opportunity for seniors, who are often homebound, an opportunity to utilize their gifts and be able to give back to those in need.
WHO
The CareWear Project could consist of simply collecting and distributing winter items, and honestly, that would be easier, and our distribution numbers would probably be even greater. However, at Volunteer Delaware 50+ we believe in providing our senior population with a volunteer opportunity that they can engage in all year round, utilizing their skills and do something that they love all while doing something for someone else. Knitting and crocheting provides just that.
This is especially true for many of our homebound seniors who may lack the mobility or resources to be able to drive places to serve and as a result may experience loneliness, isolation, and depression.
For those living in senior facilities who also happen to be mobile, knitting is a very social activity that fosters a sense of community, an opportunity for growing friendships, and building a much-needed support network.
WHAT
From the generosity of those in our communities, around 4,000 ITEMS are hand-made and distributed EVERY YEAR to individuals living here in our state of Delaware. Yes, more than 4,000 items just in New Castle County. We don’t ship items off to other state or countries, what is made here stays here because we believe love begins at home.
Although we can capture the number of items made, the hours generated by the volunteers is even more impressive. Each year, volunteers in our state, serve more than 30,000 hours to the CareWear Project, or in dollar amounts, donated more than $886,800 dollar to those in Delaware EVERY YEAR (https://independentsector.org)!!!
So WHAT type of items are made and donated by our volunteer and who do they go to? Items include large bed size blankets or afghans, small blankets, baby blankets, lap robes, sweaters, shawls, scarves, hats and mittens for babies, children, and adults.
Over the years we have developed some incredible partnership with local organizations dedicated to heling those in:
Children Hospitals
Cancer centers
Hospice care centers
Nursing homes
Veteran centers
Shelter for teen mothers
Food closets
Homeless shelters
Recovery communities
Low-income communities
WHY
Hobbies, such as knitting and crochet have shown to help improve some of the common issues that seniors face, including chronic pain, depression, isolation, and cognitive and physical impairment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 80% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition and as a result may also suffer from depression.
We want to help our seniors stay sharp while also providing them with a way to give back to the community. A neuropsychiatry study found that engaging in activities such as knitting could reduce the chance of developing mild cognitive impairment by 30 to 50 percent for seniors. Knitting is especially good for this, since it requires the use of many parts of the brain at the same time.
WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION
The CareWear Project is proudly supported by our New Castle County Volunteer Delaware 50+ Advisory Council, a not for profit organizations for the purpose of advising on and assisting in the advancement of the program objectives of the Volunteer Delaware 50+. The mission of Volunteer Delaware 50+ is to engage persons 50 and older in volunteer service, to meet critical community needs and to provide a high-quality experience that will enrich the lives of volunteers.
The CareWear Project is proudly supported by our New Castle County Volunteer Delaware 50+ Advisory Council, a not for profit organizations for the purpose of advising on and assisting in the advancement of the program objectives of the Volunteer Delaware 50+. The mission of Volunteer Delaware 50+ is to engage persons 50 and older in volunteer service, to meet critical community needs and to provide a high-quality experience that will enrich the lives of volunteers.
To learn more about Volunteer Delaware 50+, visit https://volunteer.delaware.gov/volunteer-delaware50.
County Served: New Castle; Kent
Office Location(s): New Castle
Sector: Community Improvement; Homelessness & Housing; Seniors; Volunteerism; Civic Engagement & Social Action