Happy New Year

WOW, it's been a busy year, hard to believe it's now 2012 and the year 2011 is behind us. We've accomplished alot through out this year folks. We've been featured in Crochet Magazine, we've been linked on a few more blogs, we've reached donation levels sufficient enough to add additional groups to those we help. A very successful year...who's count continues

**There are donations from minnisoda (Liz), Bridget, Yvonne, Barb-Peggy-Janice and Susan from St. Louis pending as I write this scheduled post. Their items have been received and will be counting in the 2011 totals; but as you know there's a new post each day highlighting someone's donation........they are scheduled ahead and therefore their items will appear Next Year (2012)...as will others that come from the time this post was actually written (12-16) til the end of the year.

PLEASE take time, (even if you've been here looking around on the blog before), new items to see. Check out the updated working calendar, read the tabs titled, Mittens, Scarves, Hats, Hats, and Give a Square.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 473
Hats 969
Mittens 258
Socks 333
Squares 852
Rain Ponchos 216
Cotton Washcloths 345
Sweaters/Poncho's 11
Slippers 128
Afghans 55 (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, head bands, shawl, hot packs, or yarn etc.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO'VE DONATED AND OR HELPED BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE 2011 SO SUCCESSFUL: (I've gone back through the whole year of posts to compile this list, please let me know if I've left someone out).

Adrienne
Alexis
Amy
Angie M.
Anne G.
AnneMarie
Barb from St. Louis
Barb (not St. Louis, last initial?)
Barbara
Becky
Beth
Betty B.
Bonnie B.
Bridget
Bunny
Carol S.
Cheryl B.
Cheryl G.
Cheryl S.
Chizoba
Christine (my darling daughter)
Chuck (my older brother)
Cindy
Connie S.
Damaris
DaMarys
Deborah K.
Denise F
Diana H.
Diane K.
Dolores W.
Elaine
Evelyn
Frank
Gail B.
Gloria
Helen
Jackie M.
James
Jan (my SIL)
Janice in St. Louis
Jeanette
Jen
Jenny S.
Jennifer T.
Jessica
Joanie B.
Jodi
Joy
Judy L.
Karen A.
Karen H.
Katie B.
Kathy G.
Kathy S.
Kevin (my fabulous neighbor who takes care of the mail in my absence)
Kim J.
Laurie
Linda M.
Liz
Lois (Knotty Knitters)
Louise
Lucille(Knotty Knitters)
Lynn (my friend who makes deliveries for us to Holy Family, Vinton Co, and several schools)
Lynne (Knotty Knitters)
Marie Anne
Marilyn P.
Marilyn W.
Mary A.
Mary H.
Mary (? unsure if this is one of the Mary's above)
Melissa
Melody (Knotty Knitters)
Nancy
Nelda
Niki
Nikki S.
Nola
Panther
Pat E.
Patty L.
Patty S.
Paula K.
Pauline B.
Peggy P.
Peggy in St. Louis
Penny(Knotty Knitters)
Phyllis
Phyllis G (unsure if same as above Phyllis)
Rae (lady who makes deliveries to our Bridge People and 2 free clinics and YWCA family shelter)
Rajani
Rebeccah
Robbie (never identified in order to contact)
RoseMarie
Sacha
Sally
Sandie (from Louisiana)
Sandie (from Florida)
Sandy (me, the 3rd Sandy)
Sara R.
Sara T.
Sarah S
Sharlet
Sherri I.
Sherry K.
Shirley
Stephanie
Sue F.
Sue H.
Sue V.K.
Suzy D.
Suzann W
Tammy
Theresa M.
Theresa S.
Tracy F.
Trudy
Unidentified Donor from the State of Washington
Vickie
Yvonne S.

**Includes names for those who's post and donations are up and coming, but still counted in the year 2011 totals**

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!

Happy New Year, LOOK What we've Accomplished!

Happy New Year One and All. Many thanks for your support throughout this year. Thank you if you blogged about our cause, Thank you if placed a badge and link on your blog, Thank you if you knitted and donated, Thank you if you crocheted and donated, Thank you if you loomed and donated, Thank you if you sent socks and personal care items, Thank you if you told a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker about our cause, Thank you if you printed one of flyers to distribute to help spread the word. THANK YOU!!

I blogged about how we began and what was accomplished in our first month-actually less of operation HERE. I posted a blog about the growth that happened in the year 2009 HERE.

And now I want to list all those helping hands in this calendar year of 2010:(because this is not something I could accomplish by myself)* in no particular order

RoseMarie, Louise, Liz (minnisoda), my Darling Daughter Christine, Sandie in Florida, Jessica, Mary in Ohio, Yarn Yokel (Jason), Dorothy in Wisc, Judy in Ohio, Jean in Ohio, Sandie in Louisiana, Ruth, Lisa, Scharlet, Krystine, James, Sacha from France, Nelda, Bunny, Linda in Florida, Frank, Becki, Sarah, Susan, Tracy, Robbie, Patty in Ohio, Margaret, Karen V, Karen A, Cindy, Taby, Pat, Peggy, Tracey (Tcara), Lex (Alexis), Gail, a 2nd Patty, Joy, Yvonne, Donna, Joyce, Cyndy, Sandra, Anne G, Kate, Alma, Emily, Chris, Shelly, Christi, Jodi, Paula, Brodie Jo, Jennifer T., Esther maddeleine4), Trudy, Jenny, Barbara N, Becky, Bonnie, Mia, Becky P, Theresa, June M, Jan, and Rae.

Sometimes with people use one name or ID on a forum or in a group, a different one if they blog, and perhaps a different yet for their email I have troubles figuring out who's who when the mail comes and has a real name. Sometimes it's taken some time to determine who's who. To date, there is still one person I was never able to identify to thank and that would be Brodie Jo. I posted here multiple times and in other groups and forums I belong to; but never did make a connection. Brodie Jo, if you're out there please know your donation was very much appreciated. If anyone knows Brodie Jo, please zap me a note, thanks.

We really grew by leaps and bounds this year with more and more helping hands, with being able to help more people I was able to add to the mission several times. How awesome is that. We're listed on many additional lists these days. I put forth a real concerted effort at spreading the news several months ago and it has really paid off with more donations coming in daily.

Here are our final numbers of donated items for the calendar year of 2010

Scarves 340
Hats 592
Mittens 151
Socks 101
Slippers 34
Ghans 10
Squares 238

We grew in number of blog posts having 185 in 2010. We had our first contest, a blog contest that our good friend Sandie in Louisiana won. We had a mitten challenge which included another mitten pattern from our good friend and long time supporter Beth which Dorothy and Jean won. We added slippers to the list of items we need, and squares through Give a Square. I'm very happy with what we've been able to accomplish, one stitch, one donation at a time. We do make a difference, an important difference every single day in someone's life. THANK YOU.

I look forward to what we can accomplish together in the upcoming year of 2011.

Please remember 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. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!