Hats for Kids at West Broad Elementary School

Look at these awesome and adorable hats knitted by our good friend, Sandra R down in Florida.  She's made 30 hats.  Some are small, some are mediums,  some are larges, and others extra large....KIDS!  So many wonderful colors for both the girls and the boys, several styles as well.  These were passed along for our friend, Elizabath Parson's West Broad Street Challenge.  So far, Bridge and Beyond has donated 75 hats towards her goal of 600.

Though the date of this post is the 7th and her deadline is the 2nd, it's because I schedule posts remember and have been scheduling every other day of late.

These hats are warm, soft and truly perfect in everyway!  Many thanks Sandra, you must knit in your sleep.

2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 323+30=353
Scarves & Infinity Scarves: 167
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 111
Slippers: 91
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths: 364
Afghans: 22
Socks: 201
Cowls/Hoody Combo's/ 18
Shawls 2
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

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 Needed for School Children at West Broad Street Elementary School

This is West Broad Street Elementary School here in Columbus.  It's one of several schools we here at Bridge and Beyond have helped with our donations over the years.  If you've visited the blog frequently, you probably remember a friend of mine Lynn, who made special deliveries for us.  Sadly both Lynn and her husband have health issues and won't be able to continue helping us in that manner.  Please keep Lynn and her hubby in your thoughts and prayers.

This school has many children in need, some are in fact homeless children.  As the name of group suggest, we help more then those homeless folks under the bridge.  We help those beyond, and so we will again this year help this school.  The simple fact of children being able to have a hat on their heads so they are warmer during recess is HUGE.  When a child doesn't have sufficient clothing to be outside during recess they don't get to play and socialize with other children their age.  I think we all know how necessary that play time is for kids with pent up energy, for kids to feel a part of their community at school and beyond.

A lady I've known for years on the internet (and hopefully one day we'll get to meet face to face), has started an event on Facebook that will aid the children at this school.  Elizabeth Parsons attended West Broad Street when she was a child and now she liked to give back.  Her quest is to donate 600  hats by November 2nd.  Hats should be sized for children 4-12.  Hats should be made with suitable colors to not show the dirt (basic same guidelines we've always used here on Bridge and Beyond), and not be made of wool or other specialty type fibers.

I currently have items that were to be delivered next week to various locations.  I will be re-sorting the donations  on hand to separate out hats for kids, so we that we here on Bridge and Beyond can help Elizabeth kick start her worthy quest.  Edited to add we've started Elizabeth off with 32 hats that are bagged and ready for her project for West Broad Street Elementary School.  Thank you to all the good folks who sent hats sized appropriately recently.  I'm happy to say after the resort, we still have a bag of items appropriate for kids (scarves primarily) that will be delivered this week to Homeless Families along with a bag for men and a bag for women.

The temps these past couple of days tells me the need for us to gear up to help our fellow man is truly upon us.  It was 47 yesterday when I first woke up yesterday and this am, 46.  Please keep your crochet hooks and knitting needles busy.

Doing a search here on the blog, I can see as far back as 2009 notes about our donating to this school. Below is a cut and paste of one of the Thank you's from their principal.


CCS Mission: Each student is highly educated, prepared for leadership and service, and empowered for success as a citizen in a global community.

October 14, 2011


To Our Friends at Bridge and Beyond,

On behalf of our students and staff, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for your donated hats and gloves. Our students are often deprived of clothes and essentials at home and the burden of supplying materials for all of our students becomes very costly. Your generosity and kindness will bring smiles to many students. Those students that receive your materials will surely be grateful and appreciative. It eases the minds of those students that are not prepared with warm clothes to be given them during the cold winter season. I am impressed with your dedication to the children and the neighborhood.

Again, I thank you, my staff thanks you, and most of all, the students thank you.

Sincerely,


Pete Kurty, Principal


2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 308
Scarves 145
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 84
Slippers: 67
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths: 346
Afghans: 20
Socks: 201
Cowls/Hoody Combo's/ 17
Shawls 2
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

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.

Thank You, 1500th Blog Post

1500

Blowing up our logo, sorry it makes it a bit blurry folks; but it seems appropriate to celebrate this ....the 1500 blog post from Bridge and Beyond, where we've talked about, shown pictures of, shared patterns of, and discussed the need of Hats, Scarves, and Mittens.......and more.  

Fairy Princess, Beth was one of our earliest pairs of helping hands here on Bridge and Beyond.  She's the one that made our logo.  She and I became acquainted through blogging many years ago and while she no longer participates here on Bridge and Beyond, I've never felt the need to select a new logo.  Thought this served us well these past 5-6 years.

Thank you Beth.

And this beautiful pink Lilly from my back yard is my way of saying thank you to you all, for knitting, for crocheting, for mailing, for delivering your donations to me through the years for Bridge and Beyond.  Loved this Lilly, but sadly so did the squirrels.  They kept digging it up and I kept replanting it.  

Below is a Thank You from Cindy Leonard, the Principal from West Broad Street Elementary School, one of the schools our friend, MaryLynn (LYnn) distributes our goodies too.  This school is very much in the area where our Bridge folk live in the elements, is also near Homeless Families Foundation whom we donate to, as well Holy Family Soup Kitchen .  Wanted to pass along her Thanks to you all whom make this possible.

Dear Ms. Holladay,

We would like to thank you and your organization for the donation of hats, gloves and scarves for our students.  We appreciate your generosity and dedication to helping the less fortunate.  Please continue to keep us in mind in the future.

Sincerely,

Cindy Leonard

West Broad Elem.

When communicating with Cindy I asked a couple of questions in order to tell you a bit more about this school we've donated to.  They have 520 students from Pre k-5th and about 95% of them are on The Free Lunch Program.  95% of one school (494 students), have need.  That's alot of need folks, alot of cold hungry kids.  This isn't the first time we've donated to this school, though the first for this year.  Just know, when you donate....YOU truly do fill a 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.

West Broad Street Elementary Children in Need

I wanted to share this nice thank you note from West Broad Street Elementary school.  I hope you're able to read it when you click to enlarge, as it's a picture rather then a scan.  Not sure why, but had difficulties when I tried to scan it and get it posted for you.  West Broad Street has many children in need, some of whom are in fact homeless.  How nice the children can now go outside and play with their friends vs staying indoors because of not having warm items to wear.

They also included a nice newsletter indicating things the school is doing.  They discussed attendance and it's importance to the families, talk about parent teacher conferences, and other important school matters. 

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats: 87
Scarves: 78
Socks: 39
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 13
Rain Ponchos:2
Mittens: 4
Cotton WashClothes:47
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 4
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators 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.

Homeless, Cold Children in Need THANK YOU!

If you read our blog on a regular basis you know we help many groups. We donate our hand knit and crocheted items to 2 family shelters (The YWCA, The Homeless Families Shelter), we donate our items to 2 free clinics (that care for women and children on the West Side of town), we donate our items to Holy Family (who passes out items to those in need along with a hot meal). Lynn the lady who delivers our items to Holy Family during her volunteer hours also distributes our items to several other areas in need. One such location is Broad Street Elementary School who's children have great need. Many who attend are in fact homeless, many in dire circumstance. It's very difficult to obtain a necessary education when you cold, and hungry and fearful about where you'll be sleeping the night. Though I know we can't take care of all their needs, we can make an important difference with warm hats, scarves, and mittens for these kids.

Here's a nice note from the principal I wanted to share with you all. AND add my thanks to you, for all the work you do.
------------------------------------------
West Broad Elementary
2744 West Broad St.
Columbus, Oh 43204

CCS Mission: Each student is highly educated, prepared for leadership and service, and empowered for success as a citizen in a global community.

October 14, 2011


To Our Friends at Bridge and Beyond,

On behalf of our students and staff, I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for your donated hats and gloves. Our students are often deprived of clothes and essentials at home and the burden of supplying materials for all of our students becomes very costly. Your generosity and kindness will bring smiles to many students. Those students that receive your materials will surely be grateful and appreciative. It eases the minds of those students that are not prepared with warm clothes to be given them during the cold winter season. I am impressed with your dedication to the children and the neighborhood.

Again, I thank you, my staff thanks you, and most of all, the students thank you.

Sincerely,


Pete Kurty, Principal

and

The staff and students of
West Broad Elementary School
-------------------------------------------
*this is a cut and paste of an email attachment I received, so the spacing is a little off, but I wanted you all to see it*

Highland Elementary School is another school in need that our friend Lynn made a delivery too. Additionally, some donations went to St. Vincent DePaul in Vinton County. Vinton County is one of 29 counties in the state that fall into the Appalachian area. These area's are the poorest in the state. I am hoping donations will continue at such a level that we can continue to spread our wings like this and go "beyond". Vinton is in the brown area when you look at the above map. Franklin, is the county where our clinics, shelters, and Bridge folks are ...that's the orange area.

Asking everyone who reads this today....Please tell at least one person about our cause. Tell them in person, tell them in an email, tell them about it through Facebook, your blog, Twitter. Thank you!

October is mitten month, let's see if we can boast those numbers, still a little bit of time left in the month; though please remember..........we collect them all year long.

November's focus will, Jack Otis Memorial Month, please keep checking in (men will be the focus).

2011 Donations:

Scarves 355
Hats 735
Mitts 142
Socks 135
Squares 515
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (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 or yarn etc.

**Reminders:
Include a note with your donation
Do not tie and cut when changing yarn, leave several inches and weave in your ends
Avoid open lacy stitches, general rule of thumb if you can poke your finger throw the stitches, they aren't as warm as they could be.
Avoid white as much as possible, shows dirt too easily
Lots of info in FAQ and Before you donate

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!