Handmade goods come infused with the love of the person who made them, and this month we want to spotlight the work done by volunteers who have kept that love alive by completing the projects started by people who have passed away, all thanks to the Loose Ends Project.
The project was launched by Jen Simonic and Masey Kaplan who are both avid knitters who had the shared experience of being asked by friends and loved ones to complete projects left behind after someone has died, or become unable to finish due to illness. Word of mouth has helped it to spread, and both founders are surprised yet unsurprised by the enthusiasm and dedication their idea has inspired.
Now a nonprofit, Loose Ends acts as a matchmaker, connecting people in possession of an unfinished project with a volunteer finisher with the right skills and willingness (and geographic proximity). Any fiber art is welcome, whether it’s crochet, knitting, cross-stitch, etc, they will try to find someone to finish a partially-started project.
After one year of the existence, the project has 17,000 finishers in 60 countries signed up! And the volunteers have logged at least 8,400 hours on over 1,000 projects! The demographics of the volunteers are all across the spectrum.
The founders believe the unifying emotion of grief helps explain the concept’s popularity. “We’ve all lost so many people, have lost so much,” Simonic says. “This is the one thing we have in common. We’re all going to die and lose somebody. When I see the [finishing] people’s approach to the people with the crafts, they are so gentle. I’m honored — honored is a word they use a lot.”
This Giving Tuesday, we are humbled by the quantity and quality of time, energy and love given by Simonic, Kaplan and their legions of volunteers. Supporting this wonderful nonprofit means supporting love.
Hat tip: Next Avenue for the quote
