Volunteer with The Magic Yarn Project

We adore our volunteers! We couldn't do it without you!

Three pictures show volunteers handcrafting yarn wigs for children

Due to hospital regulations, we can only accept NEW donated yarn! 

***Please only donate yarn and other materials from SMOKE-FREE homes and pet-hair-free environments.***

Current Needs

Our East and West shipping locations will be taking a break from receiving shipments of cut yarn, flowers, and envelopes during the month of December.
 
 
INSTEAD- we have another leader who needs your help! You can find current needs at the signup link listed on the volunteer Facebook group.  Thank you.
 

How can I volunteer with a group? How can I volunteer from home?

Cut and Bundle "Hair" Yarn

When can I donate these?

Due to strict storage limitations, "hair" yarn donations are only accepted on an as-needed basis. View our current requests in our volunteer Facebook group, updated weekly on Wednesdays. Volunteers and group leaders can always communicate directly with one of our Shipping Coordinators before purchasing supplies:

Who can participate?

Everyone! Appropriate for adults, youth, and children with supervision.
This is our preferred activity for groups who want to volunteer for us.

Materials required:

  • We strongly recommend creating our "yarn wrapping boards" before beginning this project. It is possible to cut yarn to length using other setups (like the backs of chairs), but it's more awkward and difficult to keep accurate.
  • Skeins of yarn in our approved brands and colors
  • Gallon-size zip-top bags
  • Scissors

Click here for detailed instructions, including instructions on how to build a yarn wrapping board.

"Bedazzle" Flowers

When can I donate these?

Due to strict storage limitations, flower donations are only accepted on an as-needed basis. View our current requests in our volunteer Facebook group, updated weekly on Wednesdays. Volunteers and group leaders can always communicate directly with one of our Shipping Coordinators before purchasing supplies:

Who can participate?

This activity is best suited for adults and youth. Due to the burn risk to little fingers, we don't recommend this for children.

Materials required:

  • Silk flowers in specific types and colors. See below for shopping links.
  • Flat-backed plastic gems in specific types and colors. See below for shopping links.
  • Hot glue guns and hot glue sticks
  • Gallon-size zip-top bags

Click here for detailed instructions and links to purchase materials.

 

Decorate Envelopes

When can I donate these?

Due to strict storage limitations, envelope donations are only accepted on an as-needed basis. View our current requests in our volunteer Facebook group, updated weekly on Wednesdays. Volunteers and group leaders can always communicate directly with one of our Shipping Coordinators before purchasing supplies:

Who can participate?

This activity is only for individuals working at home - it is not appropriate for groups. Although the process is simple, we have very strict quality control expectations for envelope submissions, and in our consistent experience, it's not possible to meet those needs in a group setting.

Materials required:

  • White envelopes in a specific size. See below for details.
  • Character-themed stickers
  • Scrapbook-quality additional decorations such as washi tape, rolled stamps, etc.
  • Gallon-size zip-top bags

Click here for detailed instructions and pictures of examples.

Raise Funds

Because we send our wigs to children all over the world for free, our largest cost is always shipping expenses. We rely entirely on donated funds to keep sending out the Magic—and since we have no paid staff, you can be confident that every penny of your donation helps get wigs into the hands of little cancer fighters. Click here to make a secure, tax-deductible donation.

Have a group that’s ready to really make a difference? Your group’s bake sale, car wash, or any other fund drive on behalf of The Magic Yarn Project is a powerful way to engage your community for a good cause

Want to make some Magic without lifting a finger? Try “donating your birthday” (or any other time!) by hosting a Facebook fundraiser. These small-batch digital fundraisers are an important part of what funds our work. Click here to find out how.

How To Submit Your Donations

  • Fill out a Feedback Form and include it in your package. This will help us give you the best feedback possible if you're looking to improve your skills, and it helps us keep track of what we're receiving and why. View or print our Feedback Form here.
  • How should I package my donation?
    • Unfortunately sometimes packages or boxes are damaged in transit. All donations should be placed in a zip top bag before packaging to mail.
    • Large Flowers - Place in a zip top bag grouped by type of flower.
    • Small Rapunzel Flowers - Place in a zip top sandwich bag grouped in sets of 12 (mixed pink and purple).
    • Moana Flowers - Place in a zip top sandwich bag grouped in sets of 15 (all flowers should be the same style/color).
    • Leaves - Place in a zip top sandwich bags grouped in sets of 15.
    • Envelopes - Place in a zip top bag grouped by character.
    • Cut Yarn - Place each skein in its own zip top bag with the yarn label inside the bag. Please write on the bag or yarn label the length you cut the yarn to.
  • Choose a shipping location. It doesn't matter which location you choose; select the one least expensive for you to mail to.
    Please note that PO Boxes can only receive shipments from USPS.
    • Our East and West locations are NOT accepting donations of non crocheted items during the month of December. Please visit our volunteer Facebook group for other ways to help during this time.

Can I donate things in person instead of mailing them?

In 15 metro areas in North America, we do have local Magic Yarn representatives called "Chapter Leaders" who can accept donations in-person. Each of these leaders works out of her home, so donations will only be accepted based on her current needs and availability. Plan to contact her directly before shopping for supplies if you would like to give your donations locally. View our list of current Chapter Leaders here.

What if I want to make character beanies or wigs?

How To Make Character Beanies or Wigs At Home

To find out all the details about our FREE distance-learning training program to make Magic Yarn wigs at home, visit our Make Wigs and Beanies page!

 

I can't crochet. Can I still make wigs at home?

Unfortunately, since we do not have enough inventory to distribute approved beanies to crafters, we expect all of our Approved Wig-Makers to crochet their own beanies for the base of the wigs they make. Generally speaking, we do not approve wig makers who cannot crochet. You can reach out to our Shipping Coordinators, Shelly or Katie, for details. But don't despair! We have many other parts of the wig-producing process where we need lots of help from non-crocheters. Check out our other craft-at-home options above.

How To Make Wigs With a Group

To hold a free* wig-making workshop for your group, a member of the Magic Yarn Headquarters team or a Chapter Leader needs to be local to you.

*While we do not charge a fee for our Chapter Leaders or Headquarters team members to run a workshop for your group, we do ask your group to purchase some of the materials that will be used during your workshop. If overnight travel is required for your Headquarters team member to host your workshop, we typically ask your organization to cover the cost of lodging. Contact your Magic Yarn leader for details.

 

What if I don't have a Magic Yarn leader local to me?

If you do not have a Magic Yarn leader local to you, we have many other workshop options that a group of any size can participate in without requiring a member of our Magic Yarn team to be in attendance. Your group can collect and cut yarn for the wig hair, bedazzle small flowers for Moana or Rapunzel wigs, or decorate envelopes that get mailed out with the wigs. Please check out these volunteer opportunities above. Whichever activity your group chooses will put smiles on the faces of many little cancer fighters!

Our Magic Yarn team members are also occasionally able to travel to host even larger workshops with over 100 participants. These special large workshops require us to send Magic Yarn leadership from different parts of the country to your location. Sponsorship of a large workshop requires funding for all materials, event space for multiple days, and travel and lodging for leadership; pricing will vary based on your group’s needs, but generally begins in the $5,000 range. For more information on what’s involved in holding a workshop on this scale, please contact Executive Director Holly Christensen at holly@themagicyarnproject.com.