On a recent gray Friday morning in Seattle, Solid Ground’s offices were filled with color and warmth as staff and volunteers sorted, folded, stacked, and packed hundreds of handmade hats, sweaters, mittens, scarves, and blankets destined for families and individuals across King County.

The mountains of knitted, crocheted, and sewn handiworks are part of a winter tradition at Solid Ground: Knit-It-Alls dates back more than three decades, helping tens of thousands of people make it through the cold months with a personal reminder that they belong to a community that cares about them. Throughout the year, every piece is made by hand – and with love – by Solid Ground Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers.

“We get thank you notes every year,” says Volunteer Services Manager Jen Gahagan. “People love to get the items, and we get touching examples of how meaningful it is to have something handmade for folks.”

This year, Solid Ground staff and volunteers packed up 1,540 pieces made by about 40 volunteers who dedicated over 4,000 hours to the project over the course of the year. The pieces are provided to community members through Solid Ground’s Broadview Shelter & Transitional Housing and Regional Access Point (RAP) programs, plus seven other community organizations including FamilyWorks, Jewish Family Services, North Helpline, and University Heights Center.

“Besides offering warmth, these beautifully knitted items also offer the dignity of choice. … I see people’s eyes light up when they see all the different designs and colors and happily pick out their favorite ones.”

~Kerry O’Meara, North Helpline Community Connector

“Besides offering warmth, these beautifully knitted items also offer the dignity of choice, says Kerry O’Meara, Community Connector at North Helpline. “Not all free stuff has to come in drab colors like black or grey. I see people’s eyes light up when they see all the different designs and colors and happily pick out their favorite ones.”

The work is a labor of love for knitters as well, many who’ve contributed their time and handiwork for a decade or more. Some knitters make pieces on their own, while others work together in knitting clubs. “It’s a volunteer opportunity that people can do at home, on their own time, so it’s very flexible,” Jen says. “There’s some amazing craftmanship involved. We have some really talented knitters who knit some amazing items.”

Solid Ground is always looking for more knitters to help us meet the growing demand in our community. You can make a difference on your own time by signing up to become a Knit-It-Alls Volunteer.