Japanese Knives
Sharpening
The Knifewear Foundation
Knifewear in action
Below are some of the many actions knifewear has taken in the to sharpen our communities.
$24 Challenge for Operation Come Home, February 2022
Many of us think nothing of spending $24 for a bottle of wine or a steak, but that's what the average OPeration Come Home client has to spend on groceries every week after their bills are paid. For one week, Knifewear staff tried to feed themselves on just $24 to raise donations, which were matched by the Knifewear Foundation.
Knife Sharpening Clothing Drives
Our stores run clothing drives yearly where customers can exchange new & lightly used winter or summer clothes in exchange for free knife sharpening services. Donated items are given to local organizations for distribution to those in need, including Operation Come Home, Boyle St. Services, Street Cats YYC, and more.
Protect Trans Kids T-Shirts
Our 'Protect Trans Kids' T-Shirt, designed by Mason Hastie, lets you show your support for trans folks with 100% of proceeds from these $35 shirts donated to Skipping Stone.
Raising Funds for Indigenous Communities
Every year during the week leading up to Orange Shirt Day and The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we donate 100% of knife sharpening proceeds to charities that support our local indigenous communities, including Water First, Miskanawah Community Services Association, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, Downtown Eastside Women's Shelter, Minwaashin Lodge Indigenous Women's Support Centre, and the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. The Knifewear Foundation matches all donations.
Sharpening for Noto Peninsula Earthquake Relief - January 29 - February 4
100% of sharpening proceeds donated to earthquake relief.
On January 1 2024, Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, was hit by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, followed by a 5m Tsunami. Thousands of folks have been affected, including our friends at Kaginushi Kogyo, who make konro grills. Up to $20,000 in donations will go to the Japanese Red Cross Society for earthquake relief, with any additional funds going to the Canadian Red Cross.
Sharpening for Ukraine, March 21-27, 2022
March 21-27, 100% of knife sharpening proceeds were donated to World Central Kitchen. All donations were matched by the Knifewear Foundation and given to the Canadian Red Cross.
World Central Kitchen, founded by chef Jose Andres, sets up shop in any part of the world experiencing humanitarian, climate, or community disaster with much-needed supplies and resources to help feed local communities.
