Community Giving

  

Spun is happy to be in a position to help support the community that our family, friends, and customers call home. Since opening in 2015, we have worked with a number of partners to help knitters and crocheters ply their crafts to improve people’s lives.

We do occasionally have yarn to donate toward these efforts, but that's not always the case: please check with us first. Finished items made with stash or purchased yarn are always welcome, as long as it adheres to the guidelines laid out below.

Here are a few ongoing programs that you can access through Spun:

Ozone House

Spun regularly collects hand-knitted and hand-crocheted goods for Washtenaw County's Ozone House, which serves challenged and unhoused youth and families in our area. Ozone House's Pride Zone works specifically with unhoused LGBTQ+ youth. Spun collects hats, mittens, and scarves to be sent on to Ozone House, with the stipulation that they need to be made of 100% wool, because of its waterproof qualities. You can find more information, and pattern suggestions, here.

Avalon Housing

Avalon Housing's mission is to work to end homelessness by developing affordable housing based on "community, care, and support." Spun is collecting goods for Avalon Housing, including handmade outerwear, socks, and toys to be added to Avalon's birthday selection (from which parents can choose presents). You can find more information, and pattern suggestions, here.

Knit the Rainbow

The United States is home to over 500,000 unhoused LGBTQ+ youth, and Knit the Rainbow works to provide these folks with warm goods that are handmade with love. If you'd like to become involved in this work, simply bring your hand-crocheted and hand-knit goods to Spun, and we'll take it from there. You can learn more about Knit the Rainbow's work here, and you can find all kinds of great donated (and youth-friendly!) patterns on their website here.

We the People Opportunity Farm

In 2020, we began an annual fundraiser for Ypsilanti's We the People Opportunity Farm. Our Spun sample knitters donate hand-stitched garments and accessories that they have created for the shop for our Annual Sample Sale in November and December each year. To date, you have helped us raise over $7,000 for this inspiring and vital community resource. 

Knit Michigan

Joan Sheridan founded Knit Michigan to provide comfort items to cancer patients, collecting handknits from volunteers and distributing them around the state, trying to meet the ongoing need for chemo caps, blankets, pillows, and Knitted Knockers (TM). Spun serves as a collection point for Knit Michigan: bring your goods to us, and we will help them reach their destination.

Please note that Knit Michigan also honors individual requests. Simply send a note to info@knitmichigan.org, including a note about the patient and their treatment center, and volunteers will work to get you the items you need. Or let Carol know (carol@spunnannarbor.com), and she'll manage the logistics for you.

Flash Donation Days

In November 2016, we initiated Spun Flash Donation Days, on which we donate 10 percent of our gross sales to a nonprofit. Since then, we have occasionally extended the reach of these events in a couple new directions (weekend-long windows! higher percentages! sponsorships!). We have been happy to support the following organizations: 

• 826 Michigan	• Humanitarian Respite Center	• RAICES
• ACLU of Michigan	• Jewish Family Services	• Peace Neighborhood Center
• Black Visions Collective	• Jim Toy Center	• Safehouse Center Ann Arbor
• Crossing Water	• League of Women Voters	• Treeline Conservancy
• Detroit Justice Center	• Mothers Against Senseless Killing	• Washtenaw Refugee Welcome
• Focus Hope Detroit	• Musicians Take a Stand	• We the People Opportunity Farm
• Food Gatherers	• The Neutral Zone	• Women's Center of Southease Michigan
• Humane Society of Huron Valley	• Ozone House/Pride Zone	• Youth Justice Fund