Warm Dry Feet Help the Homeless

Thank you Sarah S for this generous donation to aid the Homeless.  She's included scarves, cotton washcloths, socks and rain poncho's.  Please click to enlarge to see details.  As you'll notice the rain poncho's are nicely packaged either in zip lock bags or a little pouch. Great idea!!

WOW..check out the socks folks, 48 pairs!  48 pairs of feet are going to be very very happy, dry and warmer.  Such a necessary item all year long.  She's been busy with her hook also, some nice scarves in great solid colors suitable for men or women.  AND she's also crocheted and donated the ever popular cotton washcloths.  Again in colors suitable for men or women.

**Back up folks and take a look at our graphs/goals for socks!  This is amazing and awesome.  we're at 96% of our goal already.  I don't think we've ever done that.  Let's keep the momentum going.  There have been years when we've had higher sock goals, but join me in clapping please.  Pretty exciting.

Many thanks Sarah S.  Your on going support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's homeless is so appreciated by many.  Keep up the good work!!

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Knitted Warmth for those in Need

 This is part III to goodies from our friend Laura J.  Here's another shawl spread out...

And here it is draped to give you the idea of someone wrapping it over their shoulders.

AND...here are 3 more scarves, a poncho, and another shawl.  This green shawl is the triangle style vs the rectangle one above and the two in yesterday's post.
Laura has been very busy, as you can see knitting up a storm.  The green in such a pretty shade of green.

Thank you Laura........special thanks too for the hand delivery.  AND folks, do pop back in cause there's more!!
**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Donation from New York Helps those in Need in Ohio

Thank you Thank you!  This wonderful donation is from our good friend, AnneMarie from New York.  She's been very busy, as you can tell with crocheting, ponchos, slippers, hats, and cotton wash cloths.  Special thanks for tagging and pairing your slippers, and for tagging your hats!  This saves untold hours both here when I sort and again at the shelters as the volunteers stock their shelves.

What a nice color selection with the hats, colors suitable for both men and women!  Likewise with the cotton washcloths.

Please keep up the good work AnneMarie, we so appreciate your on-going and long time support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's homeless.

2016 Donations:
HATS: 339-12=329
SCARVES (Gators, Infinity Scarves)287
MITTENS: 61
SLIPPERS: 60-7=53
RAIN PONCHOS: 205
COTTON WASHCLOTHS: 165-9=156
AFGHANS: 34
SOCKS: 120 
Misc, Ponchos, shawls etc aren't counted but very much appreciated.

**We started the year with the number of items we had donated last year, 2016; and will subtract our donations from that.  Using the end number for 2016 as the goal for the each item.  So, as the year continues you will see numbers decrease.  Our goal is to meet and surpass the number of items donated last year.**

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.

Local Donation Helps Ohio's Homeless

 Thank you Laura J from right here in Columbus for this awesome and very generous donation.  Look at all these wonderful scarves!  Lots of different styles and colors.  I LOVE your color choices.  Most of these darker colors will work for either men or women.

AND she's also knitted cotton washcloths, neck gators, a mobious scarf, slippers, and a poncho...and hats!  She's been very busy.  Thanks also Laura for tagging hats and slippers with size.  We ask everyone to do, but not everyone remembers too.  Additionally, extra thanks for delivering this donation right to my house.  The real bonus, from my perspective is getting to visit.  Laura and I had a nice visit and talked about everything under the sun!  Always a pleasure

**stay turned for the remainder of her donation, you know how I like to limit the number of pictures in a post...so do swing back each and everyday.

I'm listing our end numbers from 2015 and will subtract our current number as means of keeping our goal in front of us.  I'll show the goal number in Red.  Let's strive not just to match last years numbers, but.........work towards even more.

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  377 -7=370
Scarves: 175 -10=165
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 105
Slippers: 104 -3 =101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:  442 -8 = 434
Afghans:   18
Socks: 201
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  11 -2=9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 1 -1=0
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these 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.

Poncho's Keep Homeless Warm

 As promised here's the remainder of Laura J's donation...if you missed it, please scroll back 2 posts.  Was in the middle of photographing and counting her awesome donation when the camera's battery died.  It's the type that has a special battery so had to plug it in and wait to finish up.  Here are 3 more of her awesome knitted poncho's.  She's used the garter stitch and Lion Brand Homespun yarn...they are truly lovely and very soft.  Got the one spread out so you can see the opening.  Laura, I would love to post this pattern here on the blog...can you share what pattern you used?  I love the way it's made.  What a great idea, poncho's fit a variety of sizes so this could be a really good item for keeping people warm.

Such a pretty purple scarf, basket weave stitch?  And the remainder of her hats all nicely tagged with size.  Again our thanks Laura for joining the group and your thoughtful donation.

I added her items in the first post so no change in the math/numbers below folks.

I hope you all took time to read and comment on yesterday's post...it's quite interesting.

2014 Donations:
Hats: 374
Scarves: 243
Socks: 49
Afghans: 11
Slippers: 39
Rain Ponchos: 5
Mitten: 16
Cotton Washcloths: 130
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts, and Shrugs etc. : 8
Neck warmers, cowls, gators, wrists warmers and other misc items aren't tabulated; as well as personal care items

**edited to add link to the pattern Laura used, a free one listed on Lion Brand's website, click HERE, called Pretty Poncho.  The picture shows it with a hood, she simply left the hood off.  

Our Mission is handmade, not store bought except for socks.  Handmade provides not only warmth, but provides the individual with added hope when they realize someone took time to make something special........just for them.

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.

New Helping Hands Makes Special Delivery for Ohio Homeless

 Thank you Laura J from Ohio for this bountiful donation.  Laura is our newest pair of helping hands.  Thrilled to have you join our group.  Special thanks for delivering this to my door.  Hopefully next time we can meet face to face.  I always enjoy that, but my schedule didn't permit it this time round.  Laura has included lots of person care items from lip gloss to shampoo, soap, conditioner, tooth brushes, folding cups, hand sanitizers, mouth wash, lotion, soap containers, toothbrush containers and more.  The folks under the bridge and the shelters are always in need of these items.  Many thanks.  I collected some on my recent travels that I tossed in the collection bag with your goodies.

 She's knitted hats and scarves in many colors and many sizes.  AND she's tagged them with size for children, adult men, and adult women.  Perfect!

 She's also knitted some pretty awesome poncho's with Lion Brand Homespun yarn in some fantastic colors.  Here's one spread out....very lovely.

 Another different colored poncho on left and a beautiful shrug on the right.  Those who receive these will be thrilled not only to be warmer but to wrapped in such lovely creations.

Cotton Crocheted Washcloths, and more personal care items.  Truly a wonderful donation.  There are more poncho's and hats and scarves but, my camera's battery died as I was taking pictures, so it's currently plugged in and I will post more pictures of these poncho's once it's charged.  Please stay tuned.  

Thrilled to have you join us Laura and look forward to seeing you here often on Bridge and Beyond.  Keep up the good work.

2014 Donations:
Hats: 361+13=374
Scarves: 239+4=243
Socks: 49
Afghans: 11
Slippers: 39
Rain Ponchos: 5
Mitten: 16
Cotton Washcloths: 130
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts, and Shrugs etc. : 5+3=8
Neck warmers, cowls, gators, wrists warmers and other misc items aren't tabulated; as well as personal care items

**Did you see yesterday's post?  If not please scroll back.

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, 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.

I 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.
Here 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!

Donations for Ohio's Homeless

Donations for Ohio's Homeless and others in need prove how big hearted knitters, crocheters, and loomers are. See what I mean! Take time and look around here on the blog and you'll be amazed with the wonderful giving people who knit, crochet, and support Bridge and Beyond. Psmflowerlady (Tammy M) has done it again with 7 squares, 5 cotton washcloths, 4 pairs of mittens, 2 rain ponchos, socks, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, a knitted poncho (super soft), and a scarf!

AWESOME....I tell everyone I met about how good I believe are, and how much good I believe they can do and are willing to do. People who donate to help others, to help people they don't know are AWESOME.
Wanted to show you show you a close up of this particular square. I love this diagonal pattern...Tammy, do you have directions for this you can share?

2011 Donations:

Scarves 260+1=261
Hats 510
Mitts 117+4=121
Socks 90+1=91
Squares 412+7=419
Rain Ponchos 58+2=60
Cotton Washcloths 275+5=280
Sweaters/Poncho's 5+1=6
Slippers 84
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

There's also a cute soft bunny which some small child will love.

Eleven more days for our August focus of hats for men.

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!

A for an Excellent Donation

Thank you Alexis in Florida. A for an excellent donation of goodies. Alexis was feeling patriotic and made Red, White, and Blue Squares knowing squares were our July focus. NICE! She crocheted her first ever washcloth too, awesome. Ponchos (8) for the rainy times, that we seem to have an abundance of, razors (20) and deodorants (6) to add to the person care packages. She also sent along some regular (4) washcloths.

Thank you for thoughtful donation, Alexis, it's very much appreciated.


2011 Donations:

Scarves 227
Hats 429+4=433
Mittens (gloves) 117
Socks 80
Slippers 62
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 274+6=280
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 50+8=58
Cotton Washcloths 140+5=145


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!

Helping from Head to Toe

Thank you Yvonne for helping warm our homeless from Head to Toe. Poncho's have hoods, and socks help warm the feet. With this thoughtful donation of 6 pairs of socks, 4 ponchos, and a pair of slippers you're helping our homeless truly head to toe! The slippers are knitted with double yarn, so are nice and thick and warm. Many thanks!

7 More Days of April Showers, folks. Still plenty of time for you to get in on the action and help keep a homeless person in need dry.

**This is post #398, only 2 more to go until we reach milestone 400. PLEASE don't miss it, a special announcement for a contest you really don't want to miss will be announced.**

***Reminders, tuck in ends when you change or add yarn, stay away from open-see through type stitches (if you're able to see your hand through your projects, try going down a size with your hook to obtain a tighter and warmer item). Though we highlight an item each month, we continue to collect hats, scarves, mittens, and slippers all year long. When you come visit the blog, please leave a comment so we know you were here.***

Thank you to all for all do.

2011
Scarves 171
Hats 266
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 62+6=68
Slippers 36+1=37
Ghans 25 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 12+4=16

**Have you printed and posted a flyer to help spread the word about Bridge and Beyond? Please let me know where you posted them. Love to add the information here on the blog. Did you know we have a flyer? Click on tab in the top of the blog.

Thank you for your patience as I work to catch up from being away. Donations in que from: Sandie in Florida, psmflowerlady, Rebeccah, and Joanie. Please stay tuned.

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!

Ponchos are Perfect for our April Showers Project

If you've been following this blog awhile, you no doubt know we highlight a need every month with a special project, a special blog badge/button. This month, April is no different. This month may be best known to all as April Showers bring May Flowers, but..........only if you've got a roof over your head to keep you warm and dry. If you've not yet read about our April Showers project, please take time to do so. Click above, and or click on the badge in the side bar. This is an easy project, a project all can help with...even our non knitters and crocheters.

Thank you minnisoda from The 'Ville' (Liz in Minnesota) for these 8 ponchos, they are greatly needed, and very much appreciated. We have 10 more days of this special project, so please pop over to your local grocery or drug store and pick up a handful of these small lightweight ponchos and help keep a homeless person dry. Being dry is important, it's also hard to accomplish when living outdoors in the elements.

This is post #396 folks, only 4 more posts until we hit another milestone here on Bridge and Beyond, 400 blog posts. Those 400 posts excite me because it's representative of how much giving you've all done. Each blog posts highlights thoughtful donations from you. Some are knitted, some are crocheted, some are loomed. In the early days of the blogs I blogged here and there, and often grouped several photo's and several donations together. I later switched to the current process of highlighting a donation from one person at a time. I hope you share my excitement with this 400th post close at hand. PLEASE keep checking in....there will be a special blog post announcing a special contest. You really don't want to miss it.

Thanks for your patience, as I work to catch up with all the wonderful donations that came while I was away. (in ARUBA if you want to read about it) Stay tuned for donations from psmflowerlady, Yvonne, Sandie in Fl, RoseMarie, Rebeccah, and Joannie.

2011
Scarves 168
Hats 262
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 62
Slippers 36
Ghans 25 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 4+8=12

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!