9 Volunteer Activities for Crafters

Think you can't align your passion for crafting with altruism? Think again!

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As crafters, we have a passion to create stuff with our hands.

And sometimes, we end up with something so good, that we can't help but be filled to overwhelmed with pride.

I'm the type of crafter who's been fortunate enough to earn money from my handmade products. 

I've also managed to drastically cut back on my budget by giving away DIY greeting cards and presents to my family members and friends. 

But while we may have spent years -- and maybe even decades -- creating, we may have been left wondering if there are ways we can help our communities and ultimately, benefit our society.

Volunteering As A Crafter: Here's Why You Should Make Time

Volunteering fills your time productively.

Binge-watching Netflix shows or scrolling through social media platforms are passive, low-engagement activities. 

As a crafter, volunteering puts you in the midst of action and channels your energy into activities that benefit others.

You can meet like-minded people through volunteering.

Most crafters schedule huge blocks of time alone to tend to their works in progress. 

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Having a lot of alone time can make it difficult for crafters to reach out to other people and socialize.

Volunteering can solve this problem, as it allows crafters to get together and work toward a common goal.

Volunteering adds substance to a resume. 

While volunteering must not be seen solely as a means for career advancement, there's no denying the fact that a crafter's experiences as a volunteer can be a substantive filler for a resume. 

This is especially crucial if a crafter is vying for a career as a designer, creative director, social media manager for small businesses and brands, etc. 

"Soft skills" are honed through volunteering.

Crafters spend plenty of hours learning the basics of their craft, and then refine them over months and years by incorporating a variety of techniques and hacks.

But volunteering makes crafters more well-rounded. Aside from being immersed in a career, interpersonal and communication skills can be developed through volunteering. 

Volunteering also trains crafters to manage themselves and their emotions, time, and resources. 

Crafters might be made aware of certain constraints related to time, resources, and manpower when working on a crafty project.   

Volunteering has mental and emotional benefits.

Loneliness and depression caused by isolation is one of the most common problems of our modern times.

Volunteering strengthens the ties of communities. By getting crafters to connect and interact in groups, isolation is prevented, which alleviates loneliness and depression.

How Can Crafters Volunteer?

(1.) Teach or facilitate art therapy. You need to possess the right credentials and years of experience before you can qualify as an art therapist. 

But if all you have is years of crafting experience and the desire to mentor others, you can volunteer as a facilitator of arts and crafts lessons. 

Also, a neighbor, friend, or colleague may be hinting that they want to learn the crafts that you can do. You can take time to show them the ropes.

(2.) Give handmade cards. Other than a cheerful greeting or a message of hope and reassurance penned on a card, there are very few things that can brighten up someone's day or put a smile on their face. 

For this reason, there are many non-profit organizations that accept handmade cards as donations, and mail them to patients at hospitals and children at orphanages.

There are also deployed troops and seniors at elderly homes being reached by these handmade cards.

Get started by making a bunch of cards at home. 

This is by far the easiest volunteer activity that a cardmaker can do. You can work at your own pace at home, and finish a bunch of cards before you head over to the venue to drop off your donation. 

Keep in mind, though, that different organizations have their own regulations that restrict what you can and can't put as designs on a card. 

Some organizations don't allow glitter and anything that falls off, while others tell cardmakers to be cautious about writing certain words or phrases.

Get together with a group of volunteers. 

You can get together at home weekly or monthly if you have a small group of volunteers. 

If you're a larger group, consider renting a room at a multi-purpose hall, or asking your public library if you can use one.

Start a ministry at church or outreach program.

Sending missionaries to far-flung corners of the world isn't the only way churches can reach out. 

As a crafter, you may have noticed the need to start a new ministry at your church. 

Talk to your church's administrator and see if you can post an announcement at the church bulletin board in order to attract fellow crafters who may wish to volunteer.

(3.)  Donate handmade items. If you're good at crocheting or knitting stuff like bonnets or beanies, you may be able to help impact the lives of patients who are getting treated for cancer.  

If you're into paper crafts, making a bunch of cute bookmarks for a literacy program can help spark the interest of children and adults alike to read.

(4.) Teach a class or workshop. You may have achieved expertise in certain types of crafts, like making keychains or accessories from beads. 

Learning these handmade crafts may potentially earn extra income for stay-at-home parents, students who are putting themselves through college, or anyone who's looking for an additional source of income.

So why not mentor a few participants through a class or workshop? 

You can rent a venue or consider one-on-one sessions through Zoom.

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(5.) Put together craft kits for children. Kids at shelters and orphanages need structured activities. 

Crafting can offer something fun and educational that textbooks and lectures cannot.

Learning a craft can help children explore their creativity while passing time. 

Craft materials like pipe cleaners, ribbons, buttons, beads, and origami paper are best because they're inexpensive. 

Experimenting with them can help improve children's gross and fine motor skills. Kids can also learn about various colors and textures. 

Coloring books have also remained popular with children for many good reasons. But instead of going for jumbo coloring books, why not download free PDF printables? 

Get a ream of typewriting paper and get several illustrations printed. Use sheets of sturdy cardboard as covers (you can upcycle cereal or pizza boxes), and then have them bound with butterfly clips.  

(6.) Create decorations. Brainstorm with a group of volunteers about making decorations that you can hand over to shelters or orphanages.

A DIY Christmas wreath will brighten up the ambience of any room, as well as handcrafted ornaments for a Christmas tree. 

(7.) Reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle, and refurbish junk and clutter.  You can help limited-income families by giving them "new" stuff as a result of upcycling and refurbishing junk or clutter. 

If you're skilled in sewing, you can deconstruct worn-out jeans and turn them into tote bags or shopping bags. 

(8.) Make fidget quilts or blankets for patients with dementia or Alzheimer's.  For crafters who own a sewing machine, you can be a godsend to patients afflicted with dementia or Alzheimer's.

Fidget quilts or blankets allow for tactile stimulation. They can be made from excess fabric, and ruffles, buttons, zippers, ribbons, and brads only need to be well-attached for safety.

Children with autism and ADHD will also benefit from fidget quilts and blankets.

(9.) Create other products from a portion of the proceeds from your small business. If you were fortunate enough to monetize your passion for crafting, why not support a cause or an advocacy by setting aside a portion of your proceeds?

You can spend the money on craft materials and come up with a different set of products to sell. 

To illustrate, if you're in the business of sewing purses and clutches from excess fabric, why not come up with fictitious plush creatures like gnomes and dress them up in pink costumes to support breast cancer awareness?

Or, if you make greeting cards, include a bracelet made of beads in different colors, sizes, and textures to show your support for diversity, inclusivity, and equality.