Featured Charity: The Sandpiper Project
If you are someone who loves to sew and wants to support children in need of comfort, please consider donating some of your handmade beauties to The Sandpiper Project!
This organization accepts a variety of handmade items so there is something for everyone and, quite frankly, every sewing mood you might have.
So when Monique Arnold from The Sandpiper Project contacted me asking to promote their Annual Summer Pillowcase Challenge Sew Along, I was excited to feature the organization, and their event, on Create To Donate.
Below is my interview with Monique and the inspiring story about why The Sandpiper Project was created, the handmade donations they need, and who you support when you donate to this wonderful organization.
C2D: Why did you start The Sandpiper Project?
TSP: The Sandpiper Project grew out of our family’s cancer journey.
After our daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 16 and later declared cancer-free, life didn’t simply return to normal.
Cancer survivorship brings years of oncology appointments, scans, bloodwork, and the uncertainty that many survivor families know so well.
During Elizabeth’s first year of survivorship, the pandemic was at its height.
Because she remained immunocompromised, we began sewing masks for our family, then for our community, and eventually for others beyond our immediate area.
After producing more than 4,000 masks, we had accumulated substantial fabric remnants and recognized the need to redirect our efforts in a sustainable way.
Our younger daughter, Victoria, then suggested making quilts for children staying in the hospital where Elizabeth was treated and for families staying at Ronald McDonald House.
That suggestion became the starting point for The Sandpiper Project.
Instead of focusing on the uncertainty surrounding future scans and oncology appointments, our family spent time creating comfort items for children and families experiencing similar challenges.
Sewing became a source of healing, purpose, and connection, helping us transform fear into hope.
-Monique Arnold, The sandpiper project
What began as a family project expanded when Elizabeth was invited to serve as a Make-A-Wish Wish Ambassador.
Through charity quilt auctions, we began raising funds for the organization that supported our family and continues to serve children facing serious illnesses. As interest grew, we recognized the need to involve additional volunteers.
Just four months after making our first quilts, we invited quilters and makers from across the country to join us.
Today, The Sandpiper Project is a community of volunteers united by the belief that handmade gifts can provide comfort and remind children and families that they are supported.
C2D: Who do you serve, and what handmade donations do you provide?
TSP: We partner with organizations that support children facing cancer, serious illness, hospitalization, foster care, and other significant life challenges. Current partner organizations include:
- Make-A-Wish Oregon, Alaska & Washington, and Idaho
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon & Southwest Washington (all four Oregon houses)
- Children’s Cancer Association (serving children in 20 U.S. states)
- Camp UKANDU and Camp UKANDU Family Camp
- See You At The Summit
- Happy Bundles Organization (worldwide)
- Sam Day Foundation (supporting childhood cancer research worldwide)
- Ryan’s Case for Smiles (Oregon chapters)
- Ladybug House (Washington)
- Maggie’s Angels (Oregon & Wisconsin – supporting cancer research worldwide)
- Assistance Dogs Northwest (Pacific Northwest)
- Every Child Oregon
In coordination with each organization’s needs, our volunteers create quilts, pillowcases, receiving blankets, self-binding blankets, knitted and crocheted blankets, NICU hearts, quilted hearts, quillows, Adventure Packs, and other handmade comfort items.
Each item is made with the goal of providing comfort, care, and support to children and families.
C2D: What other types of groups or organizations do you hope to serve?
TSP: Our primary focus will always be serving children.
As we continue to grow, we hope to partner with additional children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, pediatric cancer programs, foster care organizations, camps for children affected by serious illnesses, and other nonprofit organizations whose missions align with providing hope and comfort to children and families.
Our long-term goal extends beyond organizational partnerships.
We hope to create a welcoming space where people of all experience levels can learn to sew, quilt, knit, crochet, or create handmade comfort items for others.
We are especially interested in encouraging children to participate in service, helping them understand that even small acts of creativity can support another child during a difficult time.
We believe compassion can be taught, creativity can be shared, and collective service can create meaningful hope for others.
4. How does someone request support from your group?
Organizations may contact us through our Facebook page, Instagram, or email to share information about the children or families they serve.
As a volunteer community outreach project, we work with organizations to identify their highest-priority needs and then organize comfort drives, charity quilt and sew-alongs, and donation events to help meet those needs.
5. What requirements and guidelines do you have for your handmade donations? Are there specific types of items that are more popular than others?
We encourage volunteers to create items that are meaningful to them while following general safety and quality expectations.
Each partner organization may have specific requirements for size, materials, and construction, and we sort donated items accordingly to meet those requirements.
We also host charity auctions, and selected quilts or sewing-related items may be reserved to help raise awareness and funding for one of the organizations we support.
Our goal is to ensure every donated item is safe, durable, washable, and appropriate for the children receiving it.
Bright, cheerful, child- and teen-friendly fabrics are always favorites because they help create moments of joy during difficult times.
Quilts and pillowcases continue to be among our most requested comfort items, although needs vary throughout the year.
6. What special events do you hold throughout the year?
Our calendar is filled with opportunities for people to serve.
Annual events include:
- Charity Quilt Along, benefiting a different children’s organization each year.
- Sizzlin’ Summer Pillowcase Challenge Sew Along, supporting Ryan’s Case for Smiles and Camp UKANDU.
- Biannual Acts of Comfort Drives, collecting quilts and comfort items for children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, foster care organizations, and other partners.
- Community sewing challenges, outreach projects, auctions, and collaborative events throughout the year.
Every contribution, regardless of size, helps advance our mission.
7. Where should people send their donations?
Donation information, current project needs, mailing instructions, and participation details are shared through The Sandpiper Project’s Facebook page and other social media channels.
Shipping information is updated at the start of each comfort drive so donors know where handmade items are most needed.
Wish Ambassador Liz Arnold
The Sandpiper Project
3650 NW Witham Hill Drive
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
8. What else would you like people to know?
Participants do not need to be experienced quilters to make a meaningful contribution.
Whether someone sews, knits, crochets, donates fabric, sponsors supplies, shares our mission, or encourages others to participate, each contribution helps bring comfort to a child.
A guiding message for our work is:
“Create joy, and its impact will extend beyond what we can see.”
Every stitch reflects care and support.
Together, we demonstrate that kindness, compassion, and service can make a meaningful difference for children and families.
The Sandpiper Project Welcomes These Donations
If you’re ready to contribute to The Sandpiper Project’s mission, here are some ideas:
2. Make a NICU bonding heart.
3. Make a simple quilt in your size of choice.
It’s Always Fun To Sew For A Cause
Sewing for a cause is always worthwhile because it allows you to do something you love and also give back the community.
Donating to organizations like The Sandpiper Project is also the perfect opportunity to try that new pattern you’ve had your eye on but didn’t know what you’d do with it once you finished.
Every donation makes a difference so please let me know in the comments below what you can’t wait to make and donate!
