The Community Fund

Now in its sixth year, my Community Fund is mutual aid between makers.

With this fund, I connect makers in my community who have something extra to give with folks who could use a bit of being nourished by a small indulgence like hand-dyed yarn. This might be low or limited income makers, makers who are impacted by systemic racism, or makers who are going through a rough patch.

Contribute

You can contribute to the fund by adding this product to your shopping cart, or by adding a tip to your purchase (an option that shows up during check-out).

Apply

You can apply to the Community Fund here. Applications are on the honor system and there are no requirements to meet. When makers are selected, they receive a gift card to cover or subsidize a Little Skein purchase.

Should you apply to the Community Fund?

I can't guarantee every applicant will receive a gift card in the month they apply, but I will keep you in the applicant pool for each month you are not selected.

Stories of impact

It's hard to quantify the impact of having beautiful materials to work with, or what feeling supported means, but I can share these anecdotes with you, which shows to me that the Community Fund is a piece of magic in a world that often doesn’t value our full humanity.

One maker, who is immunocompromoised, has been marginalized by Covid-19, isolating since the start of the pandemic and managing not only health challenges but also loneliness. She has been connected to another maker whose subscription yarn wasn't being used fast enough. One maker gifted her subscription to the other. They both feel supported, in community, and of value.

More than a dozen makers contributed part of their 2020 Stitches West shopping budget to the Community Fund, which was distributed to six makers who otherwise would not have been able to go to Stitches West. The Community Fund covered gas and snacks (via PayPal transfer) and shopping in my booth at Stitches West. Both donors and recipients felt supported and in community with one another, with each group of identities being held in confidence by me.

Over 125 individual makers have received my yarn and kits via the Community Fund, gifted to them (and with shipping paid by me) from more than 350 makers who've each contributed anywhere from $1 to $200 to the fund. 

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