Mission Statement

Operations for Bridge and Beyond will cease on Dec 31, 2021, last mailing date should be Dec 24th

GOAL FOR AFGHANS

Afghans
Goal: 30
Start: #24
Current: 26
0.8666%
START
END

Friday, September 30, 2011

James Donated all This Jazz!

Thank you James for all this jazz. James has been a long time supporter and I always look forward to the jazz that comes off his knitting needles. Above we have quite a variety pack of donated lovelies, hats, mittens, socks, washcloth, neckwarmer, Baclava...and a darling sweater and shirt for a little one.

You may remember if you were with us this time last year, the James supplied us with a nice knitted pattern for making mitttens. It's in the pattern section of the blog. Click on the tab marked patterns on the top of the blog.

Thank you James, keep up the good work!

2011 Donations:

Scarves 300
Hats 602+3=605
Mitts 133+3=136
Socks 121+3=124
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308+1=309
Sweaters/Poncho's 6+1=7
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

Helpful hint: when making slippers, please use double yarn, or a nice tight stitch for more durability.

**Would the unknown knitter in Seattle Washington who from this POST, Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping**

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Help from New York for Ohio's Homeless

crocheting for homelessThank you AnneMarie. AnneMarie has helped our Ohio Homeless again with this lovely donation of hand crocheted hats and scarves. She's donated 6 matches sets of hats and scarves, 2 additional hats, and wonderful warm and much needed socks! Many thanks AnneMarie, your skilled hands and on going support are very much appreciated. Please keep up the good work!

2011 Donations:

Scarves 294+6=300
Hats 594+8=602
Mitts 133
Socks 115+6=121
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

Helpful hint: when making slippers, please use double yarn, or a nice tight stitch for more durability.

**Unknown knitter in Seattle Washington, please scroll to previous post. Please make contact so I know who you are for record keeping**

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Awesome Knitted Hats donated by Unknown

knitted hatsThese are fabulous hats, super soft, nice and stretching, warm and extremely well made, knitted hats. They come from an unknown knitter in Seattle, Washington. There was no note with the hats and no last name on return label, just Seattle, Washington. Yoo Whoooo, they are lovely, and very much appreciated. Please sing out so we know who you are.

Folks, if you wish to be anonymous with your donation; no problem but please for record keeping please include your name and email with your donations and state you'd like to be anonymous and I'll list it that way. When I get things unidentified I don't know if it's an over-site, or anonymous, and I'm not able to email someone to let them know their package arrived.

Many thanks for your thoughtful donation.

2011 Donations:


Scarves 294
Hats 592+2=594
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

**A Few more days in September for our scarf focus, I'll go back and recheck to see if we have anyone for the drawing for the scarf contest**

MITTENS........Mittens will be October's focus, and we never get enough of those. I know they're not the easiest things to make. We do have a few patterns posted folks. As you think about making mittens and or reviewing patterns...think about adding length to the cuff; helps make them warmer. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Fleece Scarves Donated

Thank you Nancy (pinnut on RAV) for your thoughtful donation of 7 fleece scarves. There are soft and will help keep folks warm. Had to smile as I arranged these to photograph them, Scarlet and Gray being Buckeye Colors and all. Wondered if you knew that?

2011 Donations:

Scarves 287+7=294
Hats 592
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Hope brings Possibilities

PLEASE VOICE YOUR OPINION IN POLL TOP RIGHT SIDEBAR
The front of a lovely Thank You Card. The word HOPE, seems to very appropriate. When you help the homeless, you provide Hope for a better future. When you knit, crochet, loom and donate the HOPE you provide brings so many possibilities closer.
Karie from The Homeless Families Foundation sent this lovely note to you all.

We often don't receive thank you's, it's often not possible when we donate, and I know that's not the reason you good people do what you do. Even so, I'm happy to share with this you all.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
Running til October 8th (1 month), I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 287
Hats 592
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

500 Blog Posts!

PLEASE VOICE YOUR OPINION IN THE POLL TOP RIGHT SIDEBAR

Please enjoy this beautiful picture of Pink Mallows from my backyard to as we celebrate post number 500! Though this picture is several months old, flowers now being gone with the weather turning cold; I wanted to share it with you as a way to say THANK YOU! 500 blog posts represents how much you all have done, how much you've knitted, how much you've crocheted, and how much you've loom. It represents how much you all have donated to those less fortunate. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Let's keep up the good work with our skilled hands, spreading word about the need. You are all AWESOME!

Have you read the important blog updates..........click HERE

Have you read about the increase in our mission .......click HERE

Have you read about the shocking fact about homelessness.......click HERE

Have you read about " Operation Welcome Home".....click HERE

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Beautiful Bounty from Bunny

knitted items for homelessMany thanks Bunny (Lynda) for donating your beautiful bounty. Bunny's work is always fabulous, soft, and so well made. 6 Knitted hats, 2 scarves (one is a keyhole scarf), hand warmers, and personal care items. Bunny has been one of our longest running supporters here which is so greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work, and MANY THANKS for your on going support.

This is post #499.......can you believe we're that close to hitting 500 posts here on this blog! Very cool, each of those post represents thoughtful donations of knitting, crocheting, looming etc. Thank you all.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
Running til October 8th (1 month), I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 289+2=291
Hats 591+1=592
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 87
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

I launched a program called Welcome Home a couple of days ago. This is in connection our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about The Foundation, please do, HERE.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Can you Quess Who This Donation is From?

crocheted items for the homelessFor those of you've who've frequented the blog, I'm betting you can quess who this donations from without my telling you! Clues are bright colors, hats trimmed with a coordinating color, and wait for it......signature button flower decorations! Right you are, it's our friend and fellow crocheter RoseMarie. 4 matching hat and scarf sets the young girls will enjoy, pair of slippers and personal care items. Very nice indeed.

Thank you RoseMarie for your thoughtful donation, and your on going support.

This is post #498.......can you believe we're that close to hitting 500 posts here on this blog! Very cool, each of those post represents thoughtful donations of knitting, crocheting, looming etc. Thank you all.

Have you read about our Welcome Home Program? Click HERE, please

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
Running til October 8th (1 month), I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285+4=289
Hats 587+4=591
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86+1=87
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Brighter Days Ahead

hats, washcloths for homeless3 Cotton Washcloths, 4 hats, and 2 neck warmers means brighter days ahead for the folks receiving this donation. Our friend Sally in NJ has done it again with her knitting needles. Look at these warm, soft, darling hats! 4 fewer people will have cold heads.......that's awesome. The cotton washcloths have been sooooooooo well received at the various shelters folks. Seems like a simple thing, but a special, washcloth for you. One that makes your skin feel better. The power of a special shower....truly is more then I can express through words on a blog post.

Thank you Sally for your on going support.

As I type this blog post I realized this is post #497.......can you believe we're that close to hitting 500 posts here on this blog! Very cool, each of those post represents thoughtful donations of knitting, crocheting, looming etc. Thank you all.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285
Hats 583+4=587
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305+3=308
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, and the head bands.

If you've not yet read the post about The Homeless Families Foundation, please do, HERE.
AND Yesterday, we launched TheWelcome Home Program HERE

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Project WELCOME HOME

Operation Welcome Home BadgeOperation WELCOME HOME with above picture/badge will be an on going program. It will utilize the squares you all have sent and will send (Give a Square). Afghans will continue to be assembled and donated; just as we have done through our Give a Square Program. Previously we donated to Faith Mission for those living in temporary housing. We will now be switching gears to donate these afghans to Homeless Families Foundation. These afghans will be given as a house warming gift to the families as they move from The Homeless Families Foundation Shelter (temporary housing for 3 months) into "their" home/apt. These afghans will be a true welcome home, and welcome to your new life.

Families receive assistance with education, food, lodging and guidance through out their stay in temporary housing to help with the transition to permanent housing-employment etc.

The next 3 families slated to move from their temporary to permanent housing are:
  1. Mom, Dad, and 2 little boys
  2. Mom and a teenage daughter
  3. Dad and 2 kids (age 2 and 4)
With what we already had ready to go, we've supplied 2 adult ghans, and one ghan suitable for the teenage daughter in family 2. We will continue to try and be informed about a couple of families at a time. Current thinking is once we get rollin and have some extra on hand for them, they will have the ability to select appropriate ghans to go in their house warming package. Until we reach the extra stage, I'll be working towards specific families based on what we have here to assemble.

The volume of squares is still quite good. Therefore I do still need to restrict them to specific months. Our next month for collection here will be December 2011. If however, I start running low on your squares as I get more ghans assembled, I may alter that.

PLEASE read the guidelines for squares in Give a Square before sending your donations. If you have squares that don't meet those guidelines, and or are mailing a box of other goodies here and want to include squares.......please send me a quick email so we can make appropriate arrangements.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285
Hats 583
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

Received unidentified donation from Seattle, Washington. If you know who that is, please make contact. Thanks!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hats for the Homeless are so Appreciated

Received unidentified donation from Seattle, Washington. If you know who that is, please make contact. Thanks!

crocheted hatThank you DaMary for your crocheted hat for Ohio's Homeless. It is very much appreciated. Hats are so important. Think how much warmer you are when you wear a hat, and have your ears covered. Think how much better you feel when you head is dry. A hat helps get someone in need from having a wet cold head from snow, ice, and sleet. We're providing hats for men, women, and children; so hats of all sizes are needed and very much appreciated. Warm hats that fit a large man, down to school age children. I'm pleased our hat numbers have been good. Giving us the ability to help several schools, kids and moms in free clinics, men and women living on the street, men and women in shelters, and families living in family shelters too.

Don't over look the importance of knitting, crocheting, or looming 1 hat. The power of ONE is awesome.

A few days ago I posted a rather shocking statistic about 9 years old being the average age of homelessness nationally. If you didn't get a chance to read that post, please do. Click HERE. We have through our last couple of years collected more hats for kids then adults, mittens too. These items for kids have been donated to the shelters and the 2 free clinics and directly to some schools. I wanted to re-state that we have been donating for children's benefit so folks didn't get the impression we were only donating to adults and totally switch gears to only making items for children. To date, the group we collect the least for is adult men.

I will be launching a program called Welcome Home tomorrow, so please keep checking in for the post. This will be tied into our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about that, please do, HERE.

**the large amounts I stocked piled during the summer months donations have been delivered to Rae for the clinics and Bridge Folks, Lynn for Holy Family, and Karie for The Homeless Families Foundation.** It was wonderful to have such a nice stockpile on hand and be able to beat the weather turning cold. Yesterday it was 43 here for a good portion of the day. Folks, that's only 11 degrees above freezing!! So please keep those hooks and needles busy.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.

From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285
Hats 582+1=583
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Helping Hands Keep Heads warm with Hats for the Homeless

We have some new helping hands. Please wave hello to Jackie M. a friend of DaMary's.

crocheted hatWhat a nice think, soft and warm hat this is. Awesome colors! Many thanks Jackie for joining in, we appreciate it. Drop us a note in the comment section and let us know if you have a blog, or facebook page and what state you're from. Love to get it added to the blog.

A few days ago I posted a rather shocking statistic about 9 years old being the average age of homelessness nationally. If you didn't get a chance to read that post, please do. Click HERE. We have through our last couple of years collected more hats for kids then adults, mittens too. These items for kids have been donated to the shelters and the 2 free clinics and directly to some schools. I wanted to re-state that we have been donating for children's benefit so folks didn't get the impression we were only donating to adults and totally switch gears to only making items for children. To date, the group we collect the least for is adult men.

I will be launching a program called Welcome Home in the next couple of days, so please keep checking in for the post. This will be tied into our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about that, please do, HERE.

**the large amounts I stocked piled during the summer months donations have been delivered to Rae for the clinics and Bridge Folks, Lynn for Holy Family, and Karie for The Homeless Families Foundation.** It was wonderful to have such a nice stockpile on hand and be able to beat the weather turning cold. Yesterday it was 43 here for a good portion of the day. Folks, that's only 11 degrees above freezing!! So please keep those hooks and needles busy.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.

From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285
Hats 581+1=582
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Scarves and Scarves

Look at these marvelous scarves from our newest pair of helping hands, Denise F in Louisiana. Denise scarves are all crocheted and are various sizes. The variegated one on the right side of the picture is sized for adults, while the others are various sizes for the kiddo's. Can't you see those 2 pinks ones making a little girl feel special!

Thank you Denise for your thoughtful donation, it's very much appreciated. AND welcome to the group, we're thrilled to have you join us and hope to see you frequently here on The Bridge.

As I type this blog post I realized this is post #493.......can you believe we're that close to hitting 500 posts here on this blog! Very cool, each of those post represents thoughtful donations of knitting, crocheting, looming etc. Thank you all.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.

From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285
Hats 581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A SHOCKING Fact about Homelessness

Did you know the average age of a homeless person Nationally is a 9 year old child? Think of the 9 year children you know, those who live next door, those in your classroom if you teach school, those nieces, nephews, grandchildren and children not only in your family; but in the families of people you know. I'm betting the news that the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old makes you sad, makes you shudder, makes you sigh with a heavy heart. Don't despair and throw up your hands, join me and others here on Bridge and Beyond and help us build a bridge from Homelessness to Hope. That's being done everyday through The Homeless Families Foundation. The Foundation provides shelter, guidance, and after school programming to keep children and their families safe until such time they can move into permanent housing.

There are many stories of how families become homeless and their struggles. A sad statistic is the children. Children typically fall 2 years behind their counterparts in school. When you don't know if you'll have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, or a meal it's awfully hard to focus on learning. The Foundation provides the safety net of a place to live (temporary housing for up to 3 months), they also provide day to day essentials. While counselors work with the adults to provide them with the tools they need to successfully care for their families (jobs and housing), they work with the children; planting the seeds of hope. After school programs, and summer programs provide safe, educational and enrichment programs to help the children reach their potential. Hot meals are provided, along with homework assistance through the Dowd Center.

This year The Homeless Families Foundation celebrates it's 25th anniversary, helping families since 1986.

As you know we knit, we crochet, and we loom all year long. Throughout the summer months I'm able to stock pile your wonderful and thoughtful donations to be ready when summer ends to care for those in need. We've supplied hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, socks, and personal care items to men and women living outdoors in the elements (Bridge folks), Faith Mission both the day to day portion for men, Nancy Place for Women, 2 Free Clinics who care for Mothers and Children in need, Holy Family (feeds hundreds of homeless and others in need daily), and now The Homeless Families Foundation.

The work you do does make a difference, each and everyday.


**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 285
Hats 581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

My challenge for you all (besides continuing to knit and crochet and loom), is to tell at least 1 person today about homelessness. Tell one person today about the problem and the need for their help.

THANK YOU for all you do, keep up the good work!

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Helping the Homeless from Crochetville

squares and hats for homelessThank you Liz (minnisoda from the Ville) for your fabulous and thoughtful donation! Liz's skilled hands have helped us many times and her on going support of Ohio's Homeless through her knitting and crocheted donations is very much appreciated. Above you see 34 squares (both knitted and crocheted), 5 hats (one with a matching scarf), toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284+285
Hats 576+5=581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 420+34=454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hats, and ponchos, and Socks Oh My !

**Made correction on this post about yarn
My apologize, apparently mixed up 2 notes of ladies who donated yarn. Have corrected it to be Beth, many thanks Beth.

crochet hatI love love love this hat. Isn't it darling! Such a pretty color and the design with the wee bit of white, some young lady/teen girl/young adult is going to be thrilled. Not only will she be warm, she'll be styling. Had to show you a close up of this hat. With a little reminder, all photo's are clickable to see them larger, see them in more detail. This hat comes from our friend AnneMarie in New York. Can you share a link for the pattern to this hat? I'm wanting to add some items to our pattern page and think this would be an excellent one to add. Nice and warm, solid stitching etc.
donation for homelessHere is AnneMarie's full donation. All the hats (15) are awesome, and you can see the pattern I liked so well above is repeated in the blueish one on the bottom of the picture. Some of these hats are crochet, and I think a few are knit? The cable hats? Did you knit or crochet those?

6 pair of socks, as you know we can't get too many of those. Cold wet feet make everyone miserable, so our warm dry socks are always well received. AND 10 double packs or rain poncho's.....Nice!

Many thanks AnneMarie for your thoughtful donation and continued support.


**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 561+15=576
Mitts 133
Socks 109+6=115
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60+20=80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Updates for Helping Homeless

I've spent some time updating various parts of our blog over the last couple of weeks, and I know we have lots of new helping hands who may not be aware of some of the information here on the blog. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all about some of the newest items, and remind others of some information as we shift gears and prepare for our busy and cold months ahead.

TABS
There's a tab area across the top of the blog with LOTS of information. PLEASE read the Before you donate FAQ section, as it addresses many questions I get in emails. Additionally there are tabs with the headings How You Help, Printable Flyer, Patterns, Working Calendar, and Give a Square. In these sections are guidelines for appropriate yarn type and color and some sizing guidelines.

The People We Help(sidebar)
The Mission has been expanded to include helping The Homeless Families Foundation. Information about it has been added both in both this section and to the Mission section of the blog.

Working Calendar
I've updated the working calendar area to show squares will again be collected during the month of December. Currently only 1 month remains to be determined.

Knitting and Crochet Reminders
Please avoid white and lots of ivory in your items. They get dirty easily and laundry is very limited for some of our folks.
Please avoid lacy and or open stitches/patterns (rule of thumb, if you can see your hands through the item, it's probably to lacy)
Please avoid using suede fibers
Please avoid tying a knot and cutting after the knot. I have had to repair some items, some have been beyond my ability to repair when they've raveled. Always leave a tail of several inches after joining new yarn, AND work in all tails (except when making squares....leave final tail on squares).

BLOGS
Do you have a blog? Is your blog listed in the blog log? If not, please forward your blog url's so it can be added to the blog log. Typically, I add a link to the blog when I add the post about your first donation. If, after donating you've started a blog....please let me know so it can be added. I do blog walk and enjoy reading and commenting on your blogs, and hope you all visit each other as well.

Ravelry, FaceBook, Crochetville
Do you belong to any of these forums? If so, zap me your profile page link/url. I've added a separate listing of these links, particularly where you're not a blogger it's nice to have the connection.

Non-Bloggers
Please feel free to comment on the blog, you do not need to be a blogger to do so. Type your comment, click the drop down box where it says name and url, simply leave the url space blank. Everyone enjoys encouragement and kudos on their hard work; and leaving comments...spending time looking around the blog helps the blogs placement with SEO (search engine optimization). The higher we place, the easier we are to find, the more helping hands we get, the more people we can warm. Comments Do Matter.

MAP
Please check your name (bloggers list, non bloggers list, and RAV, FB Ville list). Is your state listed with your name? If not please leave a comment telling me where you're from. I started the map after many of you had already donated. I would love to have all lists show what state you're from so we can plot it on the map. Thus far we have 30 states listed for a 60% participation. Are you from a state not yet listed on our map?

States with no donations currently noted are:
Alabama
Alaska
Connecticut
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Utah

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 561
Mitts 133
Socks 109
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Help for the Homeless from New Jersey

donation for homelessYarn, socks, and a crocheted hat from our newest pair of helping hands, Jessica S from the state of New Jersey. 8 pairs of socks are always wonderful, and the hat is nicely sized for a female adult or older teen. I believe the hat is made with single crochets which makes it nice and warm. Welcome to the group Jessica, we're always happy to have more helping hands. Hope to see you often here on The Bridge. Many thanks for your thoughtful donation, it is greatly appreciated.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560+1=561
Mitts 133
Socks 101+8=109
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Donating Yarn to Help our Homeless

**Had notes mixed up, this donation came from Beth in West, not Laurie as I originally stated. My apologize Beth, just found my note and realized I had flip flop your yarn donations.

donated yarnLots of pretty yarn, soft yarn appropriate for the wee ones here. Can't you see some baby blankets? I sure can, and maybe booties,,,AND more. AND
donated yarnLots of knitted worsted weight yarn here with a rather large selection of colors. This yarn has been donated by our newest pair of helping hands, Beth. I got to meet Beth in person. Had a very enjoyable time visiting and getting to know each other. Thank you Beth. Some of this yarn has already been boxed up to send onto some helping hands low on yarn, and likely I'll use some and be able to pass along some more.

Thank you Beth, was great fun meeting you!

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.

From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Donating Personal Care Items for Homeless

personal care and cotton washclothsThank you AnneMarie in New York, lots of goodies here folks. 25 Cotton Washcloths, and soap, razors, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes to match up with them for some wonderful personal care packages. Some of the washcloths are squares, some round, some octagons. Very cool!

Anne Marie is our newest pair of helping hands. YIPPEE, always great to have more help. Thank you Anne Marie for your thoughtful donation, and welcome to the group. Hope to see you often here at The Bridge.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280+25=305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Homeless Children and their Families

Folks I've mentioned off and on over the last couple of weeks the possibility of expanding out mission, expanding the people we help. It is official. I've added The Homeless Families Foundation to to our Mission Statement above.

I've reviewed their webpage, and been in contact with Karie Gallegos, Resident Support Manager. This agencies is celebrating it's 25th year of operation. It is located on Broad Street in downtown Columbus. It provides housing for 47 families. The Homeless Families Foundation's mission is to provide shelter, support, stability, and nurturing for homeless children and their families. Families are provided with temporary furnished housing for up to 3 months while assistance is given to get the family back on their feet, find permanent housing etc. Additionally, a wonderful after school program is provided.

While I'm sad the need for families exists, I am happy we will be able to reach more folks in need; through your continued support. The weather is turning here in Central Ohio, the need for warm items if fast approaching. I'll be delivering a large donation, some of our summer stock pile to these children and their families. Many thanks for all your help with your thoughtful and lovingly made knitted and crocheted items. Please keep up the good work.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

If you didn't get a chance to watch the video I posted a couple of days ago, please click HERE,
to learn more about this local organization that helps homeless children and their families.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Homemade Items for The Homeless

knitted hats and personal care items for homelessOur friend Yvonne has once again donated, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and 3 lovely warm knitted hats! Hats as always are so nicely done, great colors, soft, thick and warm. Many thanks Yvonne for your skillful hands and your ongoing support. We truly appreciate you, as do the homeless here in Ohio that you donate too.

**From now until October 8, one month from today I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out a box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. ** After all, scarves are our highlighted item for September so this seems to make good sense.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 557+3=560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hats to warm homeless heads.

crocheted hatsAwesome! 15 crocheted hats from our friend Jennifer S in Ohio. These are all crocheted, and all great for the boys. Click on the picture so you can see the detail/texture in her hats. Very nice. I think she's accomplished that by using back post triples or doubles? I've gotten more hats for girls of late so pleased to get these for the boys. Well done Jennifer. Thank you for your thoughtful donation, and your on going support, it's truly greatly appreciated.

*Thanks for the heads up about my adding these 15 hats to the scarf numbers....fixed it*

2011 Donations:


Scarves 284
Hats 542+15=557
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

**We into September now, that's our month to focus on scarves if you don't know what you want to make. Remember all items except squares are collected all year long, the working calendar that highlights a particular items is not restrictive.**

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

A really RED Donation

red scarvesDo not rub your eyes, do not adjust your monitor, you are in fact seeing red x 8! Eight fun, red scarves to warm and delight 8 people in need. Some crocheted width wise, some crocheted lengthwise, some with fringe, some without fringe, some with pockets, some with tassels. What a fun Red Donation this is. Thank you DaMarys in Florida. We have new helping hands and are thrilled as always. Welcome DaMarys, hope to see you often. Many thanks for your thoughtful donation.

Perfect too, since September's focus is in fact SCARVES! Finally got our scrolling marque changed, (had forgotten to do that since August left us). Also added some guide lines to the working calendar page, which you see in tab area across the top of the page.

2011 Donations:


Scarves 276+8=284
Hats 542
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Donated Crocheted Camo Hats for Men

crocheted hatsThank you Gail B from Virginia for these fabulous crocheted camo hats for our homeless men. They are nicely sized and warm I'm always excited to get hats large enough for the men. Some of you who've been involved with donating for Bridge and Beyond may remember our start up days here. Initially we only accepted and provided for Men, the group most often overlooked in charities. We started there because the need was great, the men were most often the ones truly living in the elements, and the group most often not provided for. We were able to provide for others as time continued through the generous support of knitters and crocheters with such big giving hearts.

We're now provide for men, women, and children living in shelters, temporary housing situations, and those in desperate cirucmstances.

Currently we're in the process of obtaining additional information/wants and needs of several groups to see whom we can best lend a helping hand to. Please keep your needles and hooks flying.

Many thanks Gail for your wonderful donation, keep up the good work.


2011 Donations:


Scarves 276
Hats 537+7=542
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Friday, September 2, 2011

The Face of Homelessness, Please Donate



Please turn your sound on. Share this with someone you know, share the knowledge about homelessness. I've got information forthcoming on this group of homeless families that I believe we'll be able to help. This video, is insightful. Even if, after obtaining information we're not able to help this particular group; I believe their video is relevant.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!

Where are You and Your Yarn From?

I'm trying to identify where everyone is from, partially for fun. Take a look at the map. Also, believe it will aid me in cases where we have several people with the same name. Please look at the lists of bloggers and non bloggers and see if I have the state you hail from. If not, please leave a comment and let me know.

Additionally, we've had help from Scotland, England, Germany Puerto Rico, Canada, and France! They don't appear on the map, but their help is still greatly appreciated.

Where The People Who Donate Come From, is your state represented?