CORNING, N.Y. (WENY) -- A 12-hour knitathon will take place on Saturday at Rabbit Row Yarns & Haberdashery in Corning’s Gaffer District.  

All funds raised during the event will be given to food fundraiser organizations. Founder of Knit for Food, Laura Nelkin, says everyone is welcome to join the knitathon. 

She explained why the event is important and how people can participate and donate. 

“What we're doing on Saturday is raising funds for organizations that fight hunger and food insecurity in America,” she said. “Those four organizations are Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, Feeding America and World Central Kitchen.” 

Nelkin explained the main goal is to raise funds to feed children, natural disaster survivors, and people who are in need and home-based. People can sign up for the event or donate through an easily-accessible website called Give Butter and by clicking this link.  

 

 It all ends on Saturday at 10 p.m. The good news is, people can participate in the event at any time leading up to the last minute. 

“People can join any time,” she said. “Last year we had people joining the day of and starting their fundraising that day...they found out about it and wanted to join us.” 

This is Nelkin's second annual knitathon. She wanted to bring it back due to last year's success when they raised $265,000. 

“With the pandemic, I came to realize how hunger and food insecurity was a huge issue in America and I wanted to work on something to help alleviate that,” she said. 

She believes the knitting community is made up of extremely kind, caring individuals.  

“The power of two sticks and a piece of string and somebody who really cares...I find knitters to be some of the most caring people I have ever run across,” she said.