Touring The Homeless Families Foundation

"Be the change you wish to see in the world", Ghandi.  A quote that says so much.  This is one of the many important teaching areas for the children at Homeless Families Foundation's Dawd Center.  As you know we knit, crochet, loom, and quilt hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, cotton washcloths.  Homeless Families Foundation is one of the 3 family shelters we donate to, and also where we donate all our afghans.

This is more then a family shelter providing safe haven for a few nights here and there to those without a roof over their heads.  Homeless Families Foundation provides physical lodging, assist with job training and job search, assist with placement into permanent housing and start up kits during the transition from shelter living to permanent housing.  Throughout this process there's a focus on getting the family back up and running, to keep the family together, and helping the kids with school.

HFF (Homeless Families Foundation), makes sure kids get to and from school.  After school they are picked up brought back to the center and given a nice hot meal here at the center.  Then homework and other school related functions can take place.  It's hard for kids not knowing where they'll be sleeping day after day, or when the next meal will be to focus on education.......and yet education is the key.  Thankfully HFF works on feeding and helping the kids in a safe environment. 

There's a fabulous art area in addition to the music area you saw above.  Reaching kids through creative endeavors is very important.

And of course there's a library.  Being able to get help with reading is vital for many of these children.

What child wouldn't want to sit in an Ape chair to read?

Or sour like an Eagle in the Eagle chair?  And while the kids are getting much needed help, their parents can focus on job training and job search and where the family will be living next.  Far easier for them to focus on those important items when they know their children are being well cared for.  Most of the children in a homeless situation are behind grade level, so this educational component is truly critical. 

 Bright cheery art work, that the children have made in the summer programs can be found everywhere in the Homeless Families Foundation and Dawd Centers new facility.

 Some of the offices still have boxes as the organizational process continues, but the wonderful staff at Homeless Families Foundation forged ahead to get things read for the kids.

 I was thrilled to visit the new center and get a tour from our good friend Karie Gallegos the other day.

 Please know each and every item you make is so greatly appreciate by those that receive them.

 The work we do is important, and is does make a difference.  An important difference in the lives of many children and their families.

Here's the Homeless Families Foundations Facebook and Websites.

And if you've not yet joined Bridge and Beyond's Facebook page, please do.


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.

Hope brings Possibilities

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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!

500 Blog Posts!

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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!

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!

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!