First Donation for the Homeless in 2015

 Thank you, Thank you Sandra R from Florida for this awesome donation of knitted goodies.  Sandra has such talented fingers.  Her knitted warm items are always beautifully made.  Special thanks for always tagging your hats with size Sandra, you know how I appreciate that.  AND you all know I'm dancing for joy because she's one of our stellar mitten makers.  Look at those cute cute gray children's mittens in the lower right corner, and the nice pink pair that match a hat!

Clapping for more mittens off Sandra's needles, tied together and sized.  You rock!  She's made several different sizes so many many head and hands of different sizes will be warmer.

Sandra's been a long time and very generous supporter.  She often includes sunshine in her box to help ease the cold we experience here in Central Ohio, if only I could share that with our homeless....if only.
This is our first donation of the New Year!  Way to go Sandra.

2015 Donations:
Hats: 10
Scarves:
Mittens: 10
Slippers:
Rain Poncho's:
Cotton Washcloths:
Afghans:
Socks:
Fingerless gloves/wrist warmers:
Cowls/Infinity scarves:
Misc: personal care items and anything not listed above


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Hats

Hats.  Found some fun hat facts through a google search.  Notations of a pictorial depiction of Thebes tomb and a man wearing a straw hat back in 3200 BC.  Also a listing of a Danish Chieftain wearing a fur cap back in 70 BC.   1529 AD is supposed to be when the reference to a Millner (maker of hats) was first noted. The Haberdashers in Milan and northern Italy who imported straw hats were called Millaners.

Here in the states, John B. Stetson made a hat at a campfire outwest and began making and selling, "Boss of the Plains" in 1865.  Ten years later at The Kentucky Derby marked the largest hat fashion event.  An official hat day is marked as Jan 15th, though the exact year is unknown.

When The Royal Wedding on April 30th, 2011 put the spotlight on beautiful Kate Middleton, hats became quite popular.

Wikipedia tells us a hat is a covering for the head to protect it from elements, to be worn for ceremonial and or religious purposes, for safety reason and as a fashion statement.  Hats historically have been a sign of status.  In the military, hats show nationality, rank, and branch of service.

Our hats stats:
2011..... 969 hats were made and donated
2012.....1052 (an increase of 83 warm heads
2013.....1004 (decrease of 48
2014.....971 (decrease from 2013 of 81

Our average for those 4 years is 998 which is 27 more then our donated number in 2014.

It's been awhile since I've made a hat, I spend the bulk of my knitting and crocheting time on afghans.  I must try to make some hats.  Are you working on any hats?  Be sure to check the hat tab across the top of the blog for necessary information regarding size, colors, and fibers.  AND please remember to always tag your hats with size.  Tags should be physically attached to the hat vs a note that says the whole box are mediums.  When there are shelved at the various shelters they are shelved by size.


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Personal Care Items

As you probably know, we collect and distribute personal items to those living out in the elements and to various shelters.  We collect and distribute these personal care items all year long.  The need for them never diminishes.  We don't count the items specifically, but always encourage folks to donate them.

You can buy bulk items, travel size items, collect items when you travel that are stocked in hotel and resort rooms.  So many folks pack their own brands that collecting them in hotels is an easy and inexpensive/free way to make a donation.

Items we've collected include:
Tooth brushes
Tooth paste
Floss
Mouth Wash
Soap
Shampoo
Hair Conditioner
Lip Gloss/Balm/Chap Stick
Lotions/cream
Tissues
Deodorant
Cotton Swabs
Hand Sanitizer
Body Wipes
Razors

Items we've not specifically named in the past include Tylenol, sunblock, ethnic hair care products, and feminine hygiene products.  After researching a bit on the net, I've read about the rather large need for feminine hygiene products.  Tampons and pads of varying sizes are always in short supply.  Can you imagine the lack of being able to clean up and change to clean dry products?  Can you imagine how dirty you'd feel, how deflated you'd feel?  I truly can not.  I read several articles and wanted to share them here, but was unable to share a link or do a copy and paste, apparently the way the articles were coded prevented my doing that.  So as we get rolling in this new year, please keep this in mind.

Donating personal care items is something everyone can do, you don't need to be a knitter or crocheter to be able to help.

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.