This isn’t charity—it’s a skill that can change a child’s life.

Hi, my name is Craig. I’m a 100% service-connected disabled U.S. Marine veteran living in Medellín, Colombia. I’m asking for your help to launch something that can truly change lives—both for vulnerable kids here and for my own health . I have been knitting since I was 10 years old and was the head spinner and dyer at Going to the Sun Fiber Mill. I learned to process fiber from shearing to finished dyed yarn on modern mill machines and also hand spinning with top whorl and Turkish drop spindles and spinning wheels.

Why This Matters

In many neighborhoods in Medellín, families survive day-to-day. Some earn less than $200 a month. Many children grow up without access to opportunities, skills, or creative outlets. During the pandemic, I began buying and delivering food to families in need. That experience changed me. I started a Christmas gift program in 2023 that now donates gifts to 300 kids each year. Now, I want to create another opportunity for them.

The Mission

I want to teach 100 children across 5 neighborhoods how to spin yarn, knit, and crochet; skills that can generate income and independence. I want to start with 20 and then progressively add more kids.

Why Fiber Arts?

Fiber arts build patience, focus, confidence, and problem-solving skills. They also offer a real pathway to income by creating handmade goods that could be sold for local and tourist markets. This could be income where there is no other source.

Why This Is Personal

I live with psoriatic arthritis, severe injuries, and chronic pain. Knitting and spinning help reduce my pain, improve mobility, and provide a mental escape from chronic pain. I have used the skills that they will learn daily in my own life.

What Your Donation Will Do

Your support will fund the purchase of 2 spinning wheels, 20 drop spindles, 20 sets of knitting needles, yarn, and fiber preparation tools—allowing me to teach and leave equipment with the kids so they can continue learning and pay it forward teaching others. I have organized llama fiber that will be collected from a local finca (farm) where they shear the llamas and throw away the fiber. They will instead collect and bag it and this will teach the kids how to prepare, wash dry and use the hair to make yarn. It will give them a source of fiber for the future. The plan is to initially give each child 2 balls/cakes of yarn, a set of knitting needles, a drop spindle with premade rovings. Teaching them the proper usage of the drop spindles and drafting techniques. Then transitioning them to spinning on a spinning wheel.

Funding Goal

Estimated Total Project Cost: $7,630

Amount Requested: $5,500

this will help cover the purchase of the items and spinning wheels, the shipping, importation taxes which are high in Colombia and transportation from the customs share house to medellin.

I will personally cover the remaining costs.

Final Thoughts

This project will give children valuable skills, support my physical therapy and build a program that can grow and impact even more lives.

If you’ve read this far—thank you. Even sharing this campaign makes a difference.

-Craig