Thank you Leila for Helping the Homeless

Thank you Leila G for this nice donation of crocheted scarves.  The picture may be a bit funky, cause there was actually sunlight coming through the windows...something that doesn't happen all that often here in Central Ohio this time of the year.  She's included a mix of solids and sections of color, so a nice mix of styles.  Scarves are such a good way to increase one's warmth.  I often wear one inside.  Having the neck warm and the chest really makes a difference.

This donation of 8 scarves put's us at 75% of our goal for scarves.  Nice!!

If you've missed reading the announcement for Bridge and Beyond, PLEASE CLICK HERE

If you've missed the stats for our 12 years of operation (not including the current year of 2021, our 13th year), PLEASE CLICK HERE

If you're local and need to know where you can personally deliver your donations, (Homeless Families Foundation, and Faith Mission), PLEASE CLICK HERE

If you missed reading about a possible charity to support that benefits the homeless, StreetKnits, PLEASE CLICK HERE

AND, be sure and keep checking in as I will continue to update our stats and share pictures of our donations, as well as provide information on other charities you may wish to support with your knitting and crocheting.

**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.

Announcement, History, and Socks to Warm Cold Feet

In recent days I made the announcement that Bridge and Beyond will cease to exist come December 31st of this year, 2021.  There are many factors involved with this decision that I've blogged about in the past week.  One primary reason is difficulty with mail service that has substantially changed; making it very difficult to ensure your donations are protected when I travel.

I've been posting totals of the amazing work so many of you have participated in over the last 13 years, as Bridge and Beyond's first blog post was Dec 2, 2008; and our first donation was received on Dec. 9, 2008 from our friend Bunny.

On December 5, 2008 Sunny Fairy designed our blog logo.  

Both Sunny Fairy and Bunny were early supporters of Bridge and Beyond.  While they are not currently active with us, I do so appreciate their help in the early formation of Bridge and Beyond.

My SIL, Jan (married to my older brother, Chuck), introduced me to Rae when I first expressed a desire to set up a charity to help the homeless here in central Ohio.  Rae was and continues to be a church friend of Jan and Chuck's.  She prepares hot meals on Sat. mornings to feel those living out in the elements.  It is her group that we first supported by supplying her with warm hats and scarves in the first month of Bridge and Beyond, December of 2008.

We continued to attract more pairs of helping hands and accepted other donated items such as socks, slippers, cotton washcloths, afghans, and mittens; as well as personal care items throughout  the years.  We were able to supply not only Rae's group, but several homeless shelters here in Columbus, as well as several schools in a depressed area in need.

As I dug out wool socks this morning to warm my feet, I thought I'd share how many pairs of socks we've donated through the years.

SOCKS:

2009    70

2010   101

2011   333

2012    281

2013   281

2014   199

2015   201

2016   135

2017    29

2018    68

2019   113

2020   107

2021   193....as of Nov 1st

Total 1,830 pairs of socks to warm 1,830 pairs of feet.

Please continue to check in to see more stats and stories about the work that's been done here on Bridge and Beyond over the 13 years it's been able to help the Homeless here in central Ohio.

**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.

Personal Care and Post Office Troubles, And ...

A small collection of personal care items collected on a recent short out of town with hubby.  It was on this trip to Hilton Head, SC a week or so back that I discovered all the problems now associated with doing a mail hold.  It's never been an issue before; but ..........our post office has closed which presented a whole host of problems that never existed before.

1. When your post office closes you can not qualify for a mail hold set up on line, even when signed  into your account.
2. You can not qualify for automated telephone mail hold
3. When you get a live human being, they can not do a mail hold for you
4. You must go in person, stand in line, and fill out a mail hold card (which they may or may not loose)
5. Once back in town you return to the post office nearest you, the one where you filled out the mail hold document and are told you can not pick up your mail there, you must go to the main office.
6. The following day arriving at the main post office after difficulty with finding a parking spot and it takes 3 people to find your mail.  But, hey I lucked out the lady in front of me had been back 3 times and no one could find her mail, nor her mail hold card.

Yes this is one of the reasons I've decided it's time to put an end date to this grassroots charity, Bridge and Beyond.  So, after 13 years Bridge and Beyond's last date will be Dec 31st of this year, 2021.

Hubby and I travel a good bit, and will be increasing time away as he nears retirement.  With mail issues (significant mail delays), and reduced time you can do a mail hold, and above stated problems........it seems the writing was on the wall.  Thus, I have made this decision after considerable thought.

Dec 2, 2008 I wrote my first blog post here on Bridge and Beyond where I asked a group of blog friends if they wanted to help.  It started out quite small.  We were going to help a group of folks living in the elements that a friend, Rae prepared hot meals for on Sat mornings.  Mostly men at the time, a few woman and no children.

In one weeks time, I started receiving emails asking for my address on Dec 8th, and on Dec 9, 2008 I received my first donation from Bunny.  Bunny was an avid supporter of Bridge and Beyond in the early years.  Some of you may remember her.  She moved onto supporting other charities from my memory; but it's a nice memory to remember she was the first donator to this charity, Bridge and Beyond.

I'll will continue to accept donations, and blog about them as the year continues.  AND, I will continue to share some history and memories of how we came to be and how we grew.  Please stay tuned.

**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.

Lots of Heart at Bridge and Beyond

One day on a recent walk through the neighborhood I spotted this lovely heart made of many colorful stones in someone's' flower bed.  Naturally I stopped and took a picture.  I thought I would share it with you all because there's been lots of heart here at Bridge and Beyond through the years.

I'll be sharing alot of stats in the coming months about where and how we started, back on Dec 2, 2008 and how we got where we are today in 2021.  A loving memory, a reflection as it were.  The reason?

I've made the decision after lots of thought, that Dec 31st, 2021 will be the last day for this grassroots charity, Bridge and Beyond.  There are many factors that played into my making this decision; but one is substantial changes in mail services.  My post office has closed down which has caused problems for me regarding holding mail when we travel.  We are away from home more each year and I see that increasing as my husband moves into retirement.  

Please know that each and everyone of you who visits the blog, who's donated through the years has made it possible for Bridge and Beyond to help Homeless for 13 years...indeed lots of heart.

Please continue to visit, as there are donations to see and stories and stats about Bridge and Beyond to see and read about between now and Dec 31st.

**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.