Thanksgiving, a special day we set aside to feast and spend time with family. It's taken on perhaps different meanings throughout our history, and within our families. Giving thanks for bounty, giving thanks to God for our blessings, for making it through the difficulties of the frontier, for the help of friends.
Sharing an older family photo here, my Mother was still alive, my brothers and Father didn't have gray hair, a time when we were all younger. Certainly for many, for many fortunate people they spend this special day with family, friends and other loved ones. We pause and remember those no longer with us.
Many of us spend untold hours in the kitchen, preparing the feast, cooking more food then anyone can truly eat, certainly more then is healthy for us. Many say they'll diet tomorrow, lol. I wore my apron all day Tuesday as I made the traditional homemade egg noodles.
I had 4 of these smaller drying racks and one really large one, full. Made 5 batches of them. I make enough for the meal of 25-30 ish people. The numbers vary year to year. The family is now much larger then the older photo above. I make enough for my Dad and two brothers to have a pouch for later with their left overs, and usually enough for us for down the road.
For many, the days involves lots of hours of football. Though this is obviously a college game not a pro-game.
Whatever your family tradition or routine is on this special day of giving thanks for our many blessings, please remember those less fortunate. Please remember the cold, hungry homeless whom aren't seated at a table with family and friends enjoying themselves in comfort. I have so much to be greatful for, as do many of you reading this post; some don't...please keep them in your hearts and prayers.
I am thankful for so many things, too many too name. I am thankful for all of you who knit, who crochet, who give of your time and energy to warm the cold homeless in need. Bless you all!
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.
A pretty Lilly from my back yard. Though they are almost done blooming now. I love the color and thought I'd share to thank you all for your on going support with donations, with visits and comments to the blog. I also want to thank those who keep track of me. Things have been more quiet here on the blog of late. Things are always more quiet in summer. People tend to knit and crochet more in cooler weather, more donations mean more blog posts. In some years, I've posted contests, stories and comics or other things to try and keep a blog post up daily, or close to it. My time this year has been far less. I've been traveling more then normal (presumably leading up to retirement), and flip side of that is I've been working more.........ALOT more which limits my time to search for things to post about. In addition, I've carved out several hours daily to exercise/walk/. Due to increased swelling and pain in my knees, (mostly right from good olde arthritis.......turning up my nose to good olde), and a high cholesterol level. My doctor told me I needed to become more active, as the cholesterol was way to high. So, stretching, warming up, walking, cooling off, stretching...takes 2-3 hours a day. I've happily reduced my cholesterol to where I don't need to go on meds, knees are much happier too. The hard part of it is, I'm out moving away from my computer which makes the posting/sitting etc a bit of a challenge I'm pretty excited to have a few days off (hope that doesn't change, as my schedule often does several times a week) giving me the time I need to keep caught up here with you all. I appreciate so much those personal emails asking where I am and how I am. The folks in this group truly ROCK! I think we're on the edge of the season where donations will start picking up again...a plus and a minus situation. Having more donations is always good, but that means the weather is turning cooler making things more difficult for those we support. Thank you all for your on going support with your hooks and needles. You all truly make an important impact on the quality of many peoples lives. Bless you all. Stay tuned for donations from Gail B, Annemarie, and Rosemarie 2014 DONATIONS: Hats: 498 Scarves: 280 Socks: 75 Afghans: 15 Slippers: 69 Rain Ponchos: 55 Mittens & Gloves: 63 Cotton Washcloths: 189 Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts, and Shrugs etc. 11 Neck warmers, cowls, gators, wrists warmers/fingerless gloves and other misc items aren't tabulated; as well as personal care item
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.
Bare with me folks as I attempt to catch up after being out of town for several weeks on vacation. Several donations came right as I was leaving, and some came while I was away. Will be working my way through opening the boxes and getting things photographed between my work schedule this week; but in the meantime wanted to share this with you all; as it's something I photographed earlier.
Homelessness hits people of all races and religions, it hits adults, it hits children, it hits people in Ohio and every other state here in our country and beyond.
The above picture of socks is yet another way to help Homeless People.
Homeless are employed to process orders from this company
When you buy socks, it's a buy one give one opportunity. The 3 pairs I purchased means the Company, Mitscoots donated 3 pairs of socks to local shelters.
I got a discount purchasing these socks by donating my steps.
If you walk, or run you too can donate steps/points to help homeless around the country, not just those we help here on Bridge and Beyond. Many of you don't knit and crochet in summer, so this is perhaps a way you can still be involved when time is tight because you're spending quality time with your loved ones. Almost everyone is more active in summer months then cold winter months. Turn it into a win win situation. Buy socks and donate socks all at the same time. The footies on the right are considered "atheletic socks while the blue are more day to day.
I have a Fitbit.
I have my Fitbit linked to Earndit Earndit turns ones steps/miles/walking/running etc...(ones activity) into points. These points can be used for discounts on purchases. Most of the options for the purchases are on health food related to activity/sports and or clothes for the same purpose; but they also have options to turn your steps/points into charity. I've been able to support clean water for those in need in Haiti, Toys for Children Battling Cancer, and Socks for Homeless through my steps.
Keep in mind you don't need to have a fitbit and use points, the socks can be purchased outright, and they give discounts to most new customers. Oddly enough, I noticed their ad here on my blog through adsense this morning as I sat down to type this up.
Some of you know I've been dealing with arthritis in my knee, thus my quest to be more active and reduce the pain and swelling. I've lost weight, reduced the pressure on my knees, and am feeling much better...AND in the process I'm able to continue our mission of helping others. I've linked Mitscoots so you can check out this marvelous company, my Fitbit and my Earndit profile pages. If you'd like to connect there, please let me know. If you have questions how it all works, sing out, I'll do my best to help you.
This is also a marvelous way for someone who doesn't knit or crochet to help. Please help spread the word and let's do our best to help those less fortunate then us.
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.
(I borrowed this post from a couple of other 4th of July posts, as it's worth repeating) This isn't a current flag, it's hoisted and proudly flown at Fort McHenry in Maryland. I took this photo a few years ago, while hubby and I were touring. Look at the size of this flag. I wanted to share it with you today, July 4th as we celebrate our Nations Birthday. It's a day to be proud, a day to remember how we got here, who's sacrificed for us.
Sadly, many of those who did serve and protect us, who fought for our freedoms probably aren't celebrating today, not with a family picnic and fireworks. Why? Because they are homeless! They live hand to mouth, out in the elements, in unsafe conditions, wondering in some cases if they'll make it through the night. Wondering if they'll ever be dry and warm again. Yes, it's summer across the country and they currently are going to freeze at night; but the warmer months pass all too quickly. Soon, they'll be huddled against the wind, the rain, the snow and sleet.
Accordingly to The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans 1/3 of all adult homeless people are Veterans. Half those homeless Veterans served during the difficult Vietnam Years. While the bulk of homeless Veterans are male, about 5% are female, and that number is rising with more females in the service of our country. Most homeless Veterans are single, and live in an urban area. Many have health issues, be they mental illnesses, alcoholism and or drugs; or a combination thereof.
As you celebrate with a good meal and fun times with your loved ones today, make a commitment. A commitment to make something for the homeless. Making one thing can be HUGE. Knit or crochet and make a difference. Make a hat, a scarf, a pair of slippers, a pair of mittens, a cotton washcloth. They've given so much, let's say Thank You and serve others through our yarn.
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!
**Reminder folks to please please check the tabs so the items you make meet the guidelines for size, colors and fibers. Information is available for every item we collect and donate. If you have questions about something you'd like to make, but don't see information on, please send an email, or leave a comment, or use the contact form. We want to be sure our items meet the need of those we're helping. Colors, and fibers DO matter.** 2014 DONATIONS: Hats: 493 Scarves: 278 Socks: 75 Afghans: 12 Slippers: 60 Rain Ponchos: 55 Mittens & Gloves: 57 Cotton Washcloths: 181 Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts, and Shrugs etc. 8 Neck warmers, cowls, gators, wrists warmers/fingerless gloves and other misc items aren't tabulated; as well as personal care items
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.
Folks I spotted this a while back on the net and wanted to share with you all who help through Bridge and Beyond. Homeless people do have feelings, they have a face, they have a name and deserve to be treated with kindness and dignity. I know you all who aid the cause here at Bridge and Beyond feel the same way.
Keep your yarn, hands, hooks, and needles busy folks. We're still experiences nights in the low 40's here. We will continue to supply Rae who cares for folks under the Bridges as well as the various shelters. Our work is always needed, and appreciated.
On this Memorial Day, know that some of the items you knit or crochet are donated to a Veteran. Sadly, many Veterans, to whom we owe so much end up homeless. And like this man says, they are not Bums.
2014 Donations: Hats: 457 Scarves: 257 Socks: 56 Afghans: 12 Slippers: 46 Rain Ponchos: 5 Mittens & Gloves: 52 Cotton Washcloths:164 Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts, and Shrugs etc. 8 Neck warmers, cowls, gators, wrists warmers/fingerless gloves and other misc items aren't tabulated; as well as personal care items
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.
As some of you might know I have been a big Flat Stanley person, I have a Flat Stanley Blog where I envisioned parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, babysitters, and neighbors would get involved with young ones in their lives and help them with a Flat Stanley project and forward their pictures and stories to me. That didn't happen. Participation was well beneath my expectations, even from within my own family. However, I kept at it photographing Flat Stanley in many locations trying to help people realize how everything can be a wonderful learning opportunity with kids involvement with Flat Stanley. I even entered Flat Stanley in last years April Blog challenge (whew that was a huge amount of work). Shortly there after Flat Stanley became rather quiet.
Kerry, a Facebook friend with a big heart sent me the link to this story while I was out of town recently. Just got back to it. (You know how often I play catch up). It's a marvelous story. We talk often here on Bridge and Beyond about the number of Veterans that are homeless, so while this particular man wasn't quite....though he did have to move back in with his parents because he had no other options...he was in fact, broken and darn near homeless so it seems appropriate to post here. I plan to post it on Flat Stanley's blog sometime too. Thank you Kerry! "People don't write letters anymore," according to third-grade teacher Luella Wood.
But 10 years ago, in the painstaking scrawl of an 8-year-old, Alan Orduna did.
The Huntsville, Ark., boy, along with other students in Wood's class, penned a note to accompany a paper cut-out modeled after the title character in the popular children's book Flat Stanley. After being smashed by a bulletin board in his sleep, the book's protagonist makes the most of his new 2-D state by mailing himself to friends.
ANOTHER FLAT STANLEY ADVENTURE:
Wood asked her students to send their Stanley cut-outs to relatives or friends, who would then take them on a journey and detail the characters' exploits in a letter back.
Alan didn't have a friend in mind — or at least not one who would take Stanley on an adventure worthy of a third-grader's imagination. So, Wood sent Alan's packet off to an Army unit stationed in Baghdad and asked Alan to wait.
Alan did wait, patiently, through the rest of the school year.
He waited through the rest of elementary school.
He waited so long that he forgot he was waiting.
"There were a lot of people surrounding the library, and I was like, 'What's going on?' " he said. "They called me over and said, 'Some soldier sent mail for you.' "Then, shortly before Veterans Day last year,the 17-year-old high-school senior was called into the library with the rest of his class.
Stanley was home.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Brian Owens was young when the military bug bit him.
"My grandfather served in World War II. My father was a chaplain with the state Guard," said the New Mexico native, now a Phoenix resident. "As a kid, I had grown up in camouflage and wore dog tags and had buzz cuts."
Owens didn't consider a career until college, though.
"I was struggling with my grades. I loved education and I loved learning, but I just couldn't make heads or tails of what I wanted to do with myself," he said. "I needed some direction."
At 20, he enlisted in the Army.
He was 24, with two small sons of his own, when Stanley emerged from a box at mail call in the spring of 2004.
Owens was immediately on board, folding Stanley up and tucking him safely into his wallet.
"I'd always been a fan of cool little projects like that, and I imagined my own kids taking part in something similar," he said. "I could just picture them kind of starry-eyed after getting a letter back, thinking 'Oh, wow! A soldier overseas carried this, and he went here and there and did this and that.'
"I thought, 'I can be that guy for this kid.'"
GETTING LOST
Stanley built an impressive military resume.
He helped carry out dozens of combat patrols through Baghdad. He held steady through firefights and mortar attacks.
He saw car bombs, the banks of the Tigris River and the palace of Uday Hussein, the eldest son of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
He was there on the day of Iraq's first democratic elections.
He was there when Owens, standing guard on a tower, dodged a sniper's bullet by about 6 inches, and when his patrol hit an improvised explosive device. He saw the fate of some colleagues who weren't so lucky.
He was there, still, when the disturbing scenes and constant stress began to wear Owens down, leaving the soldier angry and confused.
"I experienced many things that changed who I was, how I thought and who my loved ones remembered me being," Owens wrote in a narrative travel log that eventually accompanied Stanley on his trip back to Arkansas.
"I lost track of a lot of things, including the silent passenger ... folded up in my back pocket."
HOLDING ON
Upon returning to Silver City, N.M., after his deployment, Owens found himself ill-equipped to deal with a key civilian responsibility: being a dad.
His marriage didn't survive his time in the Middle East, and he'd gotten custody of the boys.
"In the Army, if you didn't know how to do something, you referenced the field manual, or 'FM,'" Owens wrote. "(There) isn't an FM to reference on how to be a single dad, so I was lost."
ADVICE:
He and the boys lived in a tiny apartment that was chilly in the winter and "hot and full of critters" in the summer, subsisting on macaroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper and scrambled eggs. Owens said he was impatient and asked too much of his kids.
"I was trying to support us, and the logistics of trying to make everything click was extremely hard," he said.
Owens found a job at an open-pit copper mine, "an 8-year-old boy's dream come true." He got a chance to operate some of the largest equipment in the world and assist with blasts in the mine.
The constant activity eventually wore out Owens' wallet. As he sifted through its contents, he came upon a colored piece of tightly folded paper.
"After I found Stanley again and realized, 'Oh my gosh, I still have this thing,' it kind of took on a different, deeper meaning," Owens said. "It was almost like I had a mission I hadn't completed yet."
Stanley's return address was long gone, but Owens couldn't bring himself to throw him away.
"You read about all these fantastic coincidences, and I thought ... 'Maybe, one of these days, that'll happen to me,'" he said. "It was never a question: I was going to keep it until I died, or until I could find a way to get it back to who it belonged to."
LOSING CONTROL
With Stanley in his pocket, Owens soon met the woman who would become his sons' stepmother.
She brought with her a needed reality check.
Owens' love for his boys had kept him going in Iraq, but between the long days at work and late nights with his band, he'd lost sight of how much the three needed each other.
About the same time, officials at Owens' job approached him, complimenting his performance at a morning safety meeting and his "keen eye for hazard awareness." Laughing, he corrected them, calling it "a keen preference for being alive."
They asked him to begin assisting with field audits and safety training, critical in an industry with huge equipment, acid lakes and explosions.
The work "felt right and satisfied a passion I had felt for a long time," Owens wrote. In 2008, he officially became a health and safety specialist.
His improved financial standing — plus the income of his new fiancee, an environmental consultant at the mine — allowed Owens to move the family to a larger house.
But three months later, the economy tanked, taking the price of copper with it.
The mine closed, and so did Owens' window out.
HITTING BOTTOM
The family relocated to the Phoenix area, where Owens and his fiancee thought they'd have a better shot at finding work. Nothing turned up.
JOBS:
"I looked at the situation, the economy, the bills; no matter which way I looked at it, it seemed dire," Owens wrote. He prepared to rejoin the military — his last resort — and swiftly married so the kids would formally have a stepmom when he left the country.
He was turned down.
He enrolled full time in college, attempting to live off GI Bill benefits and credit cards. One month, he sold a guitar for one-third of what it was worth to try to make rent. A donation from a church committee covered electricity.
The local Veterans Affairs hospital officially diagnosed the post-traumatic stress disorder that had lurked under the surface since Owens' return. But instead of finding relief in knowing what he was up against, he felt typecast.
REPORT:
"I felt like it was a stigma that society had placed on me, something I'd been running from, something I did not want," he said. "When it caught up with me, I was really downtrodden."
So was his wife. They separated shortly thereafter, and Owens and his boys moved back in with his parents in New Mexico.
He grew depressed, bitter and forgetful. He began drinking.
One night, angrily speeding along a dark road, Owens totaled his Land Rover. Though his injuries were minor, he wished he'd died in the accident.
"One more brush with death, one more unexplained survival," he wrote. "The vehicle was trashed, but me and Stanley yet again walked away."
LOOSE ENDS
In early 2010, Owens and Stanley headed to Albuquerque for Owens' annual VA appointment.
Discouraged, he recounted his downward spiral for the woman managing his case.
Her reaction floored him.
"Let me get this straight," she said. "You suffer from hypervigilance, an overdeveloped sense of hazard recognition and situational awareness, and have an obsessive passion for making sure people are safe ... and you've figured out how to make a living out of it?"
When Owens offered a tentative "yes," the woman couldn't contain her laughter.
"As you get worse over the years, you'll probably get raises and bonuses!" she told him.
"Look, I'm not making light of your circumstances, but you're onto something here," she said. "Most folks that have your symptoms self-implode and aren't successful with it at all. It gets in the way of their work functions. You, you've turned it into your work function."
The conversation helped loosen the grip of Owens' persistent pessimism. And after that, the scattered puzzle that his life had become began to piece itself back together.
The mine reopened, and Owens was called back to work.
He found a university online, known for its occupational safety and health program, and it accepted almost all of his previous class credits.
GI BILL:
A few weeks later, he and his wife reunited.
They returned to Phoenix in 2011, and Owens became the highest-ranking safety official at an industrial-construction company in Apache Junction. In 2013, the couple had a daughter.
But Owens still had one piece of unfinished business to take care of.
MISSION COMPLETE
Owens was searching for another piece of paper when the one with the key to Stanley's past appeared.
"I came across a box with a bunch of papers in it," he wrote. "As I glanced through the contents, I found a letter. ... It was a typed note from one 'Mrs. L. Wood.'"
Owens Googled the school and found Wood's email, firing off a "shot in the dark" message.
Wood first thought the letter was a scam, though its "well-worded and polite" nature made her reconsider.
She wrote back.
While Owens worked to finish the narrative letter chronicling Stanley's journey, Wood worked to coordinate the details of his return.
"My principal went with me, because he knew Alan," she said. "All his friends were there, taping it on their cellphones."
The package wasn't just for Alan, however. It also contained a thank-you letter for Wood, along with a flag Owens had carried during his service.
The surprise left Wood in tears.
"I think teachers and soldiers kind of have a lot in common," she said. "You go to work. You get criticized. But you just keep plugging away, because you're trying to make a difference."
GOOD NEWS:
Alan, blindsided by the surprise delivery, waited until he got home to study the full, "amazing" narrative. As he was applying to colleges and preparing for a major in computer engineering, the last few lines resonated particularly well.
"I know by now you are approaching the age when you will embark on your own journey," Owens wrote. "Might I make a suggestion?
"Pick up your adventures with Stanley where ours ended. Put him in your wallet," he wrote. "You will undoubtedly face hard times. You will experience lows and uncertainty. But, whenever you feel despair or emptiness setting in, remember a saying I learned in the Army — 'If you ever get to the point where it's hopeless and nothing more can be done, you've overlooked something.'
"And, if you need a second opinion, there silently, you will have a passenger, hanging out, folded up in your back pocket, that can vouch for me."
It's such a story of hope, I thought you all my be inspired by it.
This link will take you to several posts here on Bridge and Beyond where we've discussed the HUGE problem of homelessness among our Veterans, whom we owe so much. This is the first thing I think of every time I read another state is mandating drug testing for those on welfare. What a huge slap in the face to someone who's given so much.
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.
As I'm reading trying to catch up with bloggers and friends on Facebook, I came across this story...again about homelessness and thought it worth a share.
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.
I've been away, traveling outside the country and am in need of catching up. I want to thank those who visit daily, checking to see if there's a new post; that is appreciated. I want to thank Linda J from Texas, Janis F from LA, Kathy Banasik from MI, RoseMarie from TN, Sandra R from FL and Laura J from Ohio for your recent donations. Hopefully boxes will be opened in a day or two, photo's taken and blog posts written.
In the meantime, I thought you might enjoy reading this article...it certainly touches on our mission of caring for the homeless and given this special time of year, seems an appropriate post. Please click here to read the article.
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.
Men, Women, and Children Homeless for a variety of reasons. Men, Women and Children cold, hungry and homeless often don't know where they will sleep, if they will be protected, where their next meal will come from.
This is a story and video that appeared recently in local news.
Can you help? If you don't crochet or knit, can you help? Can you donate funds? If you're not able to donate funds you can still help. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your family members. Talk about the problem, blog about the problem, Facebook about the problem...
Trying again to embed below here
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.
Some of you may have noticed this new badge posted in the right hand sidebar and wondered what it was all about. As I was out blog walking (which I love to do) a few days ago, spotted it and was curious. Reading the blog post about it (which you can do by clicking on the badge in the sidebar), it made me smile. It talked about fun childhood games that if you're as old as me ....you well remember. Games like hide n seek, Red Rover Red Rover and just plain playing outdoors with the kids in the neighborhoods. I loved that time.
I've been very blessed to re-connect with some friends from that time of innocence.
Now don't those pictures take you back? Middle front row in this picture is Wendy, some of the pictures above show Pam and her sister Debbie. We played jax, jump rope, Red Rover, flashlight tag etc. Sweet memories. The Blog Blitz is reminiscent of those times and those good feelings.
We here on Bridge and Beyond reach out to others each and everyday with each item we knit, or crochet or loom. I wonder if those folks have such sweet memories? Sadly, I doubt the children involved do. Living under bridges, on the streets, and in shelters doesn't give a child the opportunity to play safely in the neighborhood the way we all did. How blessed we all were, and continue to be with the memories of those times.
As you knit or crochet, please take time to give thanks for these special times in your life and know that each item you make shares a piece of your heart with someone in need......someone less fortunate. Thank you Don at Cruising Altitude (Blog Blitz) for helping me remember those times.
Some of you reading this blog, may say ...I don't knit, crochet or loom and therefore I can't help. Not True! You can help. You can share this blog post on your blog, in an email, on twitter and or Facebook to help spread the word. You can donate by saving all those little bottles of samples that come in the mail, and or little shampoo's etc from your travels. Those are ways to help, that don't cost a thing, just some time. If you have the financial where with-all, you can purchase socks, something always in need. Please note each item we knit, crochet, loom, collect and donate has it's own tab across the top of the page. Please let me know if you have any questions about how you might help the homeless and those less fortunate.
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.
Though this pictures shows the Kindle edition of this book, I read it in paper back, thanks to one of my high school friends, Joy D who crochets beautifully and donats here on Bridge and Beyond. I wasn't able to save the picture in the paper back version, thus you see the Kindle Edition. Which by the way, was listed as 3.99 today (FEb 17th) when this post was written and scheduled.
Joy was good enough to send me this book with one of her thoughtful donation. A bit embarrassed to say, I put it on my shelf and sorta forgot about it. Found it when cleaning off my shelf a short while ago. WOW, what a book. I highly suggest it to you all who give of yourself to help the cause here on Bridge and Beyond. Buy it in either paper book format or e-format for your Kindles etc. And when you're done, pass it along to someone else. The book is very moving and so very appropriate for all of us.
It's a true story about a man who was homeless, Denver and his friend Ron, a man who sells million dollar art. It's both a sad and uplifting story all rolled into one. Does it solve homelessness......NO! But, I think you'll find it well worth the time to read it. It's a New York Times Bestseller.
A question keeps popping into my head, as I think about this book, "Do you smile, or speak when you encounter a homeless person, or do you avert your eyes......afraid they'll ask for money? The answer for me is yes...yes to all those answers; but this book challenges us to think differently. I care, and so you do; thus we knit and crochet and pray and donate........
Would love to know who's familiar with or read the book and what your thoughts were.
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.
Folks across the country have been experiencing severe weather conditions, ice, snow, dangerously low temperatures with many businesses and schools closing. This is a picture I saw posted a few days on Facebook of an area not to far from my house, about 6 miles. Can you feel the cold? This was I believe the day temps were around 10-.
This is why homeless people, and people in shelters need us to knit and crochet warm things such as mittens, hats, scarves, and slippers. Each item has it's own tab with necessary information about sizing, colors, and fibers needed; as well as what is not accepted. Please review the tabs prior to making your thoughtful donations and let me know if you have questions.
*yet another practice for me using the ipad to post pictures and write blog posts.*
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.
A little humor for you to enjoy while you're busy knitting or crocheting or buying yarn to knit or crochet.
Hope you enjoy this, I did when I saw it on facebook a couple of weeks back and saved it to my computer. Thought I'd share this with you while I get caught up posting pictures and writing blog posts from your donations.
We've had 2 requests in the last 10 days for items needed folks. One from our friend Rae who feeds the homeless living outdoors (mostly men) on Saturday mornings. She needs hats and scarves and mittens. A delivery was made to her; but she is in need of more. Donations suitable for men have been down....so asking everyone to kick it up a notch, please and thanks. Please remember items should be solid to be warm, dark solid colors best (so not to call attention to themselves and not to show dirt), and large enough to an adult male.
In addition, we've received a request from Holy Family Soup Kitchen. I'll be able to make a small delivery based on what came in since making the delivery to Rae; but in both cased more is needed.
Items needed:
Hats
Scarves
Mittens
All items listed above are links to those tabs with specifics, as well as patterns that might be helpful to you. PLEASE measure your scarves folks, small scarves just don't work well for the men. PLEASE tag ALL hats and mittens with size and pair your mittens with a tie or safety pin.
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.
A few days I posted some stats about the Vets who served our country who are homeless. It's not the first time I've posted that type of information, nor will it be the last; but through posting that one of our contributors responded with a story so full of heart, I wanted to re-share it he in a post.
I mentioned some people think all homeless are lazy, undeserving of our help. You've heard that as well, on tv, in the news, from some politicians even. I know I often see on facebook people posting about how homeless and those on welfare are just people who don't care, who are lazy, who milk the system. I disagree with that on a variety of levels. And from those statements comes this thoughtful, heart wrenching story............as you read this story think of the people in your life you know are struggling, think of the times in your life that you were struggling. How far away from homeless are some people, and ......Boom, it's happened you are homeless.
Sandy, I know, like you, some people say that homeless are lazy, etc,, but this is not true!!! I want to share a personal story with you and the others in the group that truly hits home. About 20 years ago I was experiencing difficulties in my marriage. We were basically living paycheck-to-paycheck when my husband (at the time) decided that he wanted to go back home and live with his parents(we were living in Florida at the time and his parents were in Illinois). He left one morning for work and never returned. We had two small children at the time this was happening and I was working full time. He went to the bank and took out every cent that was in the account and also took money out of the ATM for the amount of the overdraft protection ($500). He did all of this while I thought he was at work that day. Needless to say by the next day I realized I was in serious trouble. I was kicked out of my apartment, all of my and my children's belongings were put on the curb of the apartment complex and I found myself homeless with two small children. I thank God every day that I had family members I was able to turn to for help, whereas most do not. I ask that people find compassion when it comes to the homeless because you never know what their situation is or was to have them in the current condition they find themselves. I pray one day this will no longer be an issue or problem anywhere. Thanks for letting me share my story and may God bless us all.
Thank you Florence H for sharing this story, and thank you for giving back by being part of this group. I'm thrilled you were able to take care of your family, and pull out of that mess you found yourself in. And now, you help others. Bless you for all you do.
As a child, I often heard my Mother say, "But for the Grace of God, Go I". I really didn't understand what she meant when I was young; but that is so very very true. She also used to say no matter how bad you think you've got it, there is someone worse off then you. Again wise words Mom. There is always something we can do for others and I thank you all who do just that.
The photo was taken from my back yard about this time last year as the sun was setting, and the leaves had floating to the ground, making the view possible. I found it inspiring and hope you do as well.
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.
A friend posted this on facebook a few days ago and I thought it most appropriate to share here. I've often talked about how many homeless men are veterans, but it's a subject that can't be talked about too much in my opinion. When people talk about homeless as being lazy, low life's I find it upsetting. Many of these homeless people have served our country and come back from that service broken, unable to get or hold down a job. We do indeed owe them.
Many homeless are people who've had an illness that depleted their funds, no one chooses to get sick.
Many homeless are children who have no say in what happens.
Homeless need our help, please help. 2013 Donations:
Hats: 656 Scarves: 409 Socks: 251 Afghans: 44 Slippers: 189 Rain Ponchos: 208 Mittens: 98 Cotton Wash Clothes: 654 Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 16 Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated.
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.
This photo was taken the other day out from my back deck. It was pretty foggy, cool, damp. The fog created school delays due to poor visibility for kids, and school bus drivers. Depending on where you were in city it was heavier then here, and less in a few areas. However...as you can see it was quite cool and damp. Think of sleeping out in the elements on such a cool damp night. So, even though it's spring and generally reasonably comfortable during the day, this is one reason we knit, crochet, collect, and donate all year long.
The need for folks outside doesn't really go away. Collecting all year long gives us the ability to stock all the shelters to help them be ready for changing weather.
So please folks, don't retire your hooks and needles. Please keep them busy.
**Please remember folks to tag ALL hats with size, rather then my
trying to guess and or the volunteers at the various shelters trying to
guess. Please also remember to wash and block all afghans before
mailing. It removes hair, odors, oil and dust......and it makes the
ghan so much more finished. I always suggest not drying ghans in the
dryer...though I know most yarn says it can be done. They get fuzzy,
and you can't block them in the dryer. Please lay them out in a pet free
area, you almost always need to help shape it, thus the blocking.
2013 Donations:
Hats: 361 Scarves: 276 Socks: 182 Afghans: 20 Slippers: 132 Rain Ponchos: 202 Mittens: 22 Cotton Wash Clothes: 298 Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10 Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated
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.
Saw this cute cartoon/graphic the other day on Facebook and just had to share it with you all. Thought you'd enjoy it as much as I did. Though it shows knitting needles, hope my crochet friends enjoy it too.
Folks, it's finally getting warm more then a day at a time here in Central Ohio, but that doesn't mean we stop knitting, crocheting, looming, quilting or donating. The process continues all year long because the problem continues all year long. We continue making deliveries to the shelters until such time they run out of storage....then I store it to be ready as soon as there's a possibility of cold weather hitting come fall. Additionally, families come into the system, and transition from shelter living into their permanent housing situtations on a daily basis, so our afghans are donated and used ALL YEAR LONG.
Keep up the good work with your yarn. PLEASE, if you've not been visiting, reading and commenting frequently double your efforts...it truly is helpful. AND remember even when you're busy you can help....you can blog, tweet, Facebook, email, and chat with folks about what we do and how great the need is.
Recruit Help...do you know someone at church, school, your sons baseball team that is kind hearted.....have you told them about the group? Have you joined our FACEBOOK group?
2013 Donations:
Hats: 361 Scarves: 276 Socks: 182 Afghans: 20 Slippers: 132 Rain Ponchos: 202 Mittens: 22 Cotton Wash Clothes: 298 Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10 Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, etc aren't tabulated
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.
Leave town for a couple of weeks for a great vacation in Hilton Head, and when you return you get a "special delivery" from the post office. How fun is that.
There are lots of donations here from lots of different states, all to help homeless. Took me all afternoon yesterday too open all the boxes, take photo's, count items, and make notes prior to sending out email notifications/thank you's and posting same on our new Facebook Group Page.
Boxes and pouches arrived from: Mary H (OH), Sandra R (FL), Sarah S (VT), Wendy H and her sister Catherine (GA), RoseMarie (TN), Joan A (MI), Sandie P (LA), Marie P (TN), and Maria R (TX). WOW. Many thanks to you all for your patience during my absence, it's appreciated. We also received a couple of nice thank you letters which I'll also be posting about. So, please keep checking in. AND if you mailed something during the last couple of weeks and aren't listed above, please let me a comment.
As you read this post, I'll be busy writing posts for each of our wonderful donations. Hope to see you all here reading and commenting...remember that too helps the group grow.
2013 has brought about some changes, some new ideas of ways to grow, and some new opportunities. I do hope you'll read and keep up with all happenings here. Truly, there's never a dull moment. Have you noticed or taken advantage of subscribing via email? It's in the right sidebar, thought it would be particularly nice for you folks who don't blog. You can keep up that way, as posts will arrive in your email. However, I would still encourage you to follow the link back here to leave comments. Our good friend Sandie P. signed up to help me test how it works, and she says she LOVES getting the notices in her email.
AND speaking about changes.....
Have you heard we have a Facebook Group Page? Check
it out, though ALL updates will appear here on the blog and it will
still be the primary source of communication. Links will be posted
there directing you here in order to read the full content of posts and
see pictures etc. But, as one of the many goals for this group/blog for
the year 2013; we're striving to reach more caring people in order to
serve a larger number of people in need. Please help us by visiting and
chatting in the Facebook group as well as here on the blog.
2013 Donation Totals Hats: 55 Scarves: 38 Socks: 26 Afghans: 2 Slippers: 7 Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, and...
**The
focus for the remainder of January is slippers. AND, we'll continue
focusing on feet in February. Cold, and wet feet are miserable. So...for the month
of February we'll continue with slippers as our focus AND add socks for
the feet. Socks are store bought and should be for men who live
outdoors 99% of the time. Remember to check out the slipper tab at the
top of the blog for information about sizing, colors, styles, fiber type
etc. You might enjoy using one of the patterns available there as
well. February continues to be about feet.**
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.
Not one of us can eradicate homelessness. Not one of us can feed all the hungry. Not one of us protect all those in danger. Not one of us can cure all the ills, or educate all those in need. But, together one day at a time, one stitch at a time, one point at a time...WE CAN make an important difference. We can and do warm people in need with our knitting and crocheting. And together with our points from Superpoints, we are helping (though much more is needed) kids in need obtain school text books.
The above school books were delivered to my Daughter, Christine the other day. These were purchased (used) from Amazon with the help of Amazon gift cards obtained from converting points from Superpoints. We're working hard, my Daughter and I to continue to earn Superpoints to convert them to Amazon Gift Cards, so many more books are needed. To give you a feel for difficulty of this task (AND THE NEED to have MORE of YOU JOIN US), the above used Health Text Book cost $42.00. That's one used book for one student. So, please join us. 3 simple quick steps will help
Click any of the highlighted superpoints words above
Fill out your mini registration
Verify your email address, AND complete your mini profile/and or post a photo
That's it! With those 3 easy steps, you've begun to earn points. Spin daily to gain additional points. Do surveys, play games, shop and or clip coupons. When you earn points so do we. So, it's a win win. There are many things you can do with your points for you and your family. Enjoy and please Help us Help those kids!
SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO'VE ALREADY JOINED AND SPIN DAILY, WE TRULY APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. (It's best to open a 2nd email account if you're going to do more then spin...much nicer keeping all your email separated.). 2012 Donations: Hats: 502 Scarves: 285 Slippers: 126 Shawls: 2 Sweaters 3 Vest 1 Afghans: 30 Mittens: 262 Squares: 359 Socks: 124 Rain Poncho's 209 Cotton Washcloths 369 Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes etc).
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!
Several weeks ago I attended a Sausage Party. This is an annual event that takes place in my neighborhood, just down the street. The gentlemen who's been hosting this event has done so for 18 years. His purpose is to make sausage, to continue a tradition from a Hungarian Gentlemen who taught him the craft. His purpose was to make sure his kids knew, and now his grandchildren know that preparing food is hard work, and fun, takes skill and dedication and to appreciate what people before us did. Remember, buying food packaged from the grocery store is all most younger than us know about.
However, he has yet another purpose. He gathers friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers for this ever growing event. Typically there are several hundred in attendance. Men cut and begin prepping the meat on Thursday. Friday people begin making their way in from out of town. And soon it's a party with a purpose. Several tables of meat cutting continue in the garage where the meat grinder is set up. Jack, our host always dumps in the secret ingredients. The sausage is packed in the kitchen with several stuffers going hour after hour. Everyone gets in the act, from the wee little ones, to the grandparents. Food and drink abound and a ceramic pig for donations is available in the kitchen, and the garage. All the monies donated go to Holy Family, a local church/soup kitchen that feeds on average 700 homeless a day. Holy Family has been in existence since 1970. In addition to the hot meals prepared daily for the homeless a food bank helps families in need.
People can collect a sampling of each of the 6 or 7 types of sausages made in any given year from Italian to Hungarian, to Andouille, Chorizo, and others (after it's been smoked in the smoke house in Jack's backyard). In addition to the monies collected (this year a bit over $400.00), sausage is also donated to Holy Family.
So here I am at the party, chatting with people I've met in other years, and meeting new folks; when I asked whether clothing was provided, or needed to those that are fed at Holy Family. I was speaking to a lady who volunteers in the soup kitchen several times a week. She was thrilled that someone asked, and talked about how cold some of these folks were. I had 50 hats bagged. Told her I had 50 hats geared towards school age and teenage kids. She was beyond thrilled. So, folks we reached out again....the beyond part of our mission. Now as Holy Family feeds those that come in off the street, and or from the various homeless shelters; they'll be able to give cold children and teens a hat to help warm them up. The lady I met is Lynn.
Thank you all for providing enough caring with your donations, that we're able to continue to help so many in need. It was a good night, and I was happy we were able to respond to the opportunity to help.
I should also add how good our neighborhood smells while all this sausage is being smoked. That process takes about a week or two.
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!
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?
