Knit Delight and Support for People Going Through Crisis
How My Recovery Buddy brings comfort in crisis—and how you can help
In 2012, my family had just moved to Oklahoma. Both of my kids were now in school. And at the end of January of that year, my father passed away.
(Also, right around this time, I had a double ear infection so bad that both of my eardrums burst.)
That time was one of the lowest of my life. And what made it all worse was how alone I felt. I had only just begun to get to know new people in our new home state, and I didn’t feel like there was anyone I could talk to about how I was feeling.
I believe that one of the hardest things about being in any sort of mental health crisis is the isolation you feel. Something about a mental health challenge has a way of making you feel completely alone.
Perhaps it’s the stigma that mental health issues still tend to carry in our culture.
Or perhaps it’s the way a mental health crisis tends to trick your mind into thinking that the despondence you feel could never be shared by anyone else.
What Does a Person Suffering from Mental Health Issues Need?
Mental health treatment can involve a lot of different procedures and tools. But one thing that I think a person suffering a mental health crisis really needs is to know that they are not alone.
This is why acts of kindness can be so powerful for a person struggling with a mental health issue. Knowing that someone cares—even when that someone is a stranger—can provide a powerful lift.
And this, in turn, is why charity knitting can be such a wonderful tool for mental health support. One charity that offers this sort of support is called My Recovery Buddy.
What My Recovery Buddy Does
Since February 2014, My Recovery Buddy has sent smiling handmade plush “Buddies” to people going through, as their website puts it, “rough patches.” These may include:
- Addictions
- Disorders
- Trauma Aftermath
- Grief
- Medical/Mental Illnesses
You can hear more about the creation and process of My Recovery Buddy in the video below.
How You Can Help
Obviously, the biggest way you can help is by knitting or crocheting!
First, if you’re interested in creating full Buddies, you should read their FAQs first. It explains a lot of their processes and guidelines.
Second, you may want to check out the My Recovery Buddy Ravelry page. You’ll learn a lot more about the process, find patterns, see already created Buddies and their “bios,” and more.
Third, you have another choice for knitting or crochet. If you’d rather not create a fully Buddy, you can create 6 inch by 6 inch squares, in a tight woven stitch (without holes in which stuffing could escape).
As Karen of My Recovery Buddy says:
Donations of squares are a big help and time saver for us. They’re also less costly for the stitchers to send to me here at Buddy Central. 🙂 Please leave a 12 ” tail of yarn attached at cast off time, to be used for assembly.
So, if you’d like a quick and easy way to support this charity with your yarn, this is a great option. 🎉
There are other ways you can help My Recovery Buddy.
1) Have yarn or other supplies you’d like to see go to a good cause? My Recovery Buddy is always happy to accept supplies. You can visit their How You Can Help page for their mailing address.
2) You can share the mission of My Recovery Buddy, even to those who don’t knit or crochet, to encourage them to donate to the charity. It is a nonprofit agency, so they are always grateful for donations.
The biggest thing that helped me through my own emotional crisis was when several members of my Sunday school class—whom I barely knew at that point—sent me sympathy cards. It was a small thing, but it made me feel supported and seen.
That’s why I’m so excited about My Recovery Buddy. They’ve provided over 6,000 Buddies to people in need all over the world, offering love and support. I hope you’ll consider joining this important mission!
