Warming Ohio's Homess

The awesome cowl (top right) was knitted by my Darling Daughter.  I LOVE the colors and the yarn is so nice and soft and warm.  I knitted the purple scarf with a mix of garter and stockinette stitches in sorta block formation.  The socks are a mix of slipper socks (still in the white package bank) with non skid bottoms (4 pairs), and 3 pairs short ankle socks.

Over the last couple of weeks I've blogged about various charities you might like to support; as Bridge and Beyond will cease operations this Dec 31.  Please mail your final donations by Dec 24th.

Some of the charities aid the homeless, some pregnant women, some kids transitioning out of foster care, and native Americans on Pine Ridge Reservation.  Locations vary, so you might find one of the charities listed is in your area, or close to you like a border state; making postage perhaps less costly.

Below is the listing with a very brief description, but PLEASE click on the links to see details about what they accept, what fiber to use, who benefits from the charity and where to mail items.

Afghans for Pine Ridge (Ravelry Group completed Afghans with options for 6-8- and 12 inch squares)

Red Scarf Project (benefits kids transitioning out of foster care

Warm Up American (Benefits homeless and others in need, rectangles, hats and scarves, or make your own full afghan).

StreetKnit (Benefits homeless in Oklahoma, accepts afghans,lapghans, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, socks (not store bought); as well as yarn and knitting needles.

Homeless Families Foundation and Faith Mission (benefits homeless for those that are local and can deliver donations in Columbus, Ohio.

Salvation Knitters (Ravelry Group)(benefits two charities in Lansing Michigan, that focus on pregnant mothers and their babies, getting them off the streets.)

Welcome Blankets, Lapghans for Refugees (knitted, crocheted, sewn and or quilted)

**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.

A Generous Donation of Knitted Warmth for the Homeless

WOW!  2 boxes!  Phyllis G, has been very busy and has knitted lots of goodies to donate.  In this first picture she has the always popular cotton washcloths.  As you know, they are used in a variety of ways.  Folks getting a shower at a shelter often get one...so much softer than a store bought cloth.  They're put into welcome home bags for folks when they transition from shelter to a more permanent housing situation and can be used as a dish cloth or personal wash cloth, and our friends living out in the elements get good use from them as well.

She's also included scarves with matching hats, mittens and slippers!  And you all know how excited I get when we get mittens!!  Way to go Phyllis.  

I do hope you've scrolled down, cause there's more!!  More mittens, scarves, hats, and slippers.  This group is a larger size than the first picture.  Awesome to have a variety of sizes and colors.  Some perfect for the younger set, some for women, some for men and some that work for either a man or a woman.  But... scroll some more, please.

I told you, there were two boxes of donations.  I can only put so many in one photograph in order for you to see them.  And remember, you can always click pictures to enlarge them.

**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.

A Generous Donation from Texas to Aid Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Donna F. for this thoughtful warm donation of hand knits and crocheted items.  Donna has been busy folks.  Take a look, She's crocheted hats,  slippers and scarves!  And she's knitted the every popular corner to corner cotton washcloth (grandma's favorite).  

Something here for everyone with a good variety of sizes and colors.  Special thanks too, Donna for tagging your hats and slippers with size.  That really aids the volunteers at the shelters get things to the right people in a timely manner.

Donna is our newest pair of helping hands from Texas.  So happy to have you join us.  You're timing is spot on, as temps here are now getting quite cool at night.  I had to put on a jacket and head band the other day when mowing the yard it was so cool.  Leaves are starting to change, so I fear the warmer temps are gone and that makes the need greater for our homeless folks.

Thank you to all who help with their knitting and crocheting skills.  You all make such a difference.

And thank you Donna for joining us!  Hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

**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.

Knitting Warms Homeless in Need.

Thank you Phyllis G for this wonderful donation of knitted goodies.  Phyllis has been very busy knitting hats, wrist warmers, cotton washcloths, slippers, and mittens.  Please click to enlarge the picture so you can see the details.  Phyllis has made several matching sets.  Some sets are mittens and hats, some are wrist warmers and hats, and one a scarf and matching hat.  She has the sets tied together which makes the sets look like a special gift.

Phyllis has also included several pairs of slippers, sorta bootie style.  This donation has something for everyone.  Such a generous donation.

Thank you Phyllis and please keep up the good work and know you've made an important difference to those in need.

**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 Goodies for Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Michelle N for this thoughtful donation of knitted goodies!  Michelle has included slippers (left side bottom in fall colors), knitted washcloths (right bottom), and 2 hats, and a scarf.  As you can see the hat and scarf make a nice set.  I usually lay out slippers and cloths so you can see them, but she's made them like a gift bundle by tying them nicely and adding a tag...I wanted to leave them that way.  So thought I would tell you what they were.

Many thanks Michelle for adding the nice tags with size etc.

Please know you items will be well received and very much appreciated.

Thank you and please 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.

Donations Help Others

Thank you Laura E for this thoughtful donation.  Laura has included quite a variety of goodies in her donation for Bridge and Beyond.  Lots of personal items, slippers, socks, a hat and scarf, and cotton washcloths.  

Many thanks Laura.  Please know your help is very much appreciated.  Folks, keep our friend Laura in your thoughts, please.  She's recovering from surgery and a family tragedy; but still is giving of herself to help others.  What a special person she is.

((HUGS)) Laura, please take care of you and again thank you for your thoughtful donation.

**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.

Donations Help Homeless

Thank you Laurabelle for this thoughtful donation to help our Homeless Friends here on Bridge and Beyond.

As you can see Laurabelle has been very busy knitted cotton washcloths (love the pink and white one), hats, slippers, and a scarf.  She's also included lots of personal care items, and SOCKS!  Clean dry warm socks is so important.  She's included several styles and colors to make lots of happy feet.

Many many thanks Laurabelle, please keep up the good work and know you have made an important difference to those in need.

Folks are you noticing our goal numbers in the right side bar and just above this post?  I love seeing the number of our donated items grow!  Thank you to all who make this possible.

**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.

Slippers, a Wonderful Donation for the Homeless

SLIPPERS!  Look at these great slippers, so many different colors and sizes.  Wonderful donation from Susan H.  I see people with happy warm, dry feet and that makes me happy.  These slippers are knitted with double strand, so they are nice and warm and cushy.  They are really beautifully made.  I've told myself a dozen times this is a pattern I'ld like to try myself, somehow I've never gotten around to it.  

Slippers give people comfort in several ways.  If you're getting a night in the shelter you can change out of your socks (possibly when you're doing laundry) and slip into these comforting cozy sleepers for the night.  Likewise if you're living in the elements and your feet are wet and cold from the day outside...having a pair of slippers to change into can certainly make you feel better.

Foot health is hard for our homeless friends.  When your feet are so often cold and wet, it's easy to not have healthy feet, so having dry clean socks and or slippers to change into is truly a wonderful thing.

Thank you Susan for taking time to tag each pair.......such a huge benefit for getting these to people in need quickly.  Please keep up the good work and know you've made a difference in the lives of those who will receive your slippers.

**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.

Crocheted Hats, Slippers, Scarves and More Help Homeless

Thank you AnneMarie D for this awesome donation.  So many goodies to help Ohio's Homeless in need.  She's been very busy, as you can see with crocheting has, fingerless gloves, slippers, scarves and cotton wash cloths.  AND she's included socks in her donation as well.  Many people will be helped by AnneMarie's generous donation.

As always, keep up the good work and know what you do, does indeed matter and does help those less fortunate.

While the weather is starting to break and warm up a bit here in central Ohio as I type this post, we've not yet passed the frost safe date and we will still have plenty of cold damp nights, so your warm items are still needed.

**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.

Crocheting and Donation from New York Aids Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Annemarie D for this awesome and thoughtful donation of crocheted goodies.  As you can Annemarie has been very busy with her crochet hook .  She's crocheted a pair of slipper, 2 scarves, and 22 cotton washcloths!  

Another good start to our new year of 2019.  Look at the fun assortment she's provided with her cotton washcloths.  Remember you can always click pictures to enlarge them to see details better.

Annemarie hails from New York, The Empire state.  Special thanks for helping cold homeless here in Central Ohio Annemarie.  Please keep up the good work and know you make a difference in the quality of people's lives.

**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.

Knitting with the Loom Helps Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Karen N for this thoughtful donation of knitted goodies.  Karen N is our newest pair of helping hands.  We're thrilled to have you join us Karen and hope we'll see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

As always, folks remember you can click pictures to enlarge them so you see details better of the wonderful donations folks send.  Karen has sent quite an assortment, cotton washcloths (upper left corner), hats of several styles (some with ear flaps for the younger set, knitted on looms), mittens, slipper socks and a Christmasy scarf.  

She's tagged items with size, which is always so helpful.

Thank you Karen!

**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.

Thank you Laura J for your Thoughtful and Generous Donation for Ohio's Homeless

 AND, here is the continuation of Laura J's awesome donation.  Love this pretty lapghan.  What a great way to use up left over variegated yarns.  I must check my stash, cause I think I'll be borrow this idea.  This soft and pretty lapghan will be wonderful for one of the ladies with it's pretty pale yellow background.

And, Laura's included more scarves.  Please click to see the detail of the far right scarf....the variegated camo one.  I really like this design of looking like it's triangles put together.  Very cool!

Laura has included a pair of knitted slippers in bright cheery primary colors.  What a wonderful conclusion to this generous donation.  Thank you Laura for your thoughtfulness, we hope to see you here again on Bridge and Beyond.  Please 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.

Crocheted Items from Head to Toe Help Homeless

Thanks you Sarah S for this thoughtful donation of crocheted goodies.  Look at the variety folks.  She's been busy crocheting scarves, slippers, hats, and cotton washcloths!  AND she's also included personal care items with her donation.  

Special thanks for taking the time to tag your hats with size, it is so helpful and such a huge time saver...both for me here at the house and for the various volunteers in the homeless shelters.  When they are tagged, it assists getting the item on the right shelf and into the hands of those in need quicker.

Thank you Sarah, was so nice to hear from you again.  Look forward to seeing you here again on Bridge and Beyond.  Thank you for your long time support of Bridge and Beyond and the Homeless we serve.

Please keep up the good work.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. Percentages are current, as of Feb 15th. 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.

Crocheted Donations for Homeless Continue

Thank you Emily K for this thoughtful donation of crocheted items to help Bridge and Beyond help Homeless in need.  Emily has included quite a variety of items with this donation.  She has cotton washcloths, some personal care items, a hat, mittens...........see me clapping!  I get really jazzed up when we get mittens!  She also included a pair of finger-less glovs/writs warmers.  I never know which is the more accepted or popular name.  

Thank you Emily, you are such a wonderful supporter of Bridge and Beyond.  Please know you are making an important difference in people's lives.

Oophs, almost missed the 2nd picture of the two pairs of slipper Emily made.  Very nice indeed.  Don't they look comfy and warm!  One of these days, I really should make myself a pair...one of these days.

Keep up the good work! 

**The counts on our progress bars are current, as are the percentages.  However, the percentages may not always be; as I don't plan to figure them with each donation.  They will be figured at least by the 20th of each month.

** 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 Slippers, Has, and Mittens for the Homeless

Knitted warmth!  Look at the variety here folks.  Slippers in several different sizes and colors to help warm cold feet..........hats for the kiddo's is lots of cute styles, a couple of cowls..........and drum roll for ....you guessed it........MITTENS!  And who knitted and donated all these goodies?  Sue F!  Many thanks Sue for remember us here on Bridge and Beyond.  Extra thanks for tagging slippers and hats and mittens with size. 

I have the trunk of my car all loaded up, as I type this blog post so I can make deliveries on Monday to Homeless Families Foundations.

Sadly the very top of picture is cut off a bit, as there are several hats you can just barely see there in the picture.  Wished I had noticed that before tossing those 5 bags of donations in my car, I could have re-taken the picture; but no clue which bag they are in, or if they are all in the same bag.  Luckily, my note tells me how many of everything so I plug in the number to our progress bars on the right.

Folks these progress bars are new, and not so far the easiest thing to use.  If any of you bloggers know a different style, I would love to know.  Likewise, if anyone knows how to change the default font on the blog.  Some of the functionality seems to be gone that used to be available.  I keep changing the font with each blog post I write, as I don't like the blog default one.......very small and not clean--straight forward looking at this one.  Sing out if you have some thoughts on these two blogging issues.  THanks!!

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.

How Can You Help the Homeless?

Since it's early in our new year, 2018, thought I'd post some ideas.  These ideas are ways you can help the homeless.  Maybe you've been here to the blog, Bridge and Beyond before; but have forgotten ways to help the homeless.........maybe you're new to reading this blog.  In either case, here's some ideas of things you can do to make life better for a homeless Man, Women, or Child.

• If you knit, or crochet or loom...the most obvious way to help is to knit, crochet, or loom hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, and afghans.
• If you don't knit, crochet or loom, but know someone who does ....buy them yarn to encourage them to knit, crochet or loom something to donate to Bridge and Beyond.
• If you don't knit, crochet or loom, and don't know the first thing about buying yarn, offer to pay postage for someone who does knit, crochet or loom and would make and donate something for Bridge and Beyond.
• Whether you knit, crochet, or loom or not..........visit the blog daily.  Why?  How does that help?  It helps traffic to the blog, which helps with the search engine optimization of the blog, which helps more people find us easier when searching for charities to knit, crochet or loom for.
• Take your blog visit a step farther, leave a comment.  Why?  The more time spent on the blog also aids the search engine optimization (SEO), and it encourages others to leave comments.  If you're a blogger you can leave your name and url to your blog.  Please leave the blog url, not a google+page url.  I'll return the visit, but can't if you're google+
• Regardless of whether or not you're a knitter, crocheter, or loomer or not......spread the word by sharing the link to the blog in your email contacts, and on your social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc.
• If you knit, crochet, or loom in public (planes, lunch at work, etc) have a card or two with you with the name and url of the blog.  Why?  People often ask what you're making when you're knitting, crocheting and or looming in public, right?  When they do tell them what you're making and why........offer them the card so they can check out the blog
• What is the url?  http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com/    you can also tell them to google Bridge and Beyond.
• Share the link to the Facebook Group    https://www.facebook.com/groups/246918975439091/?ref=bookmarks
• If you are not a knitter, crocheter or loomer, you can help by collecting personal care items which are needed all year long.  They are needed in Summer, Spring, Fall, and Winter.  You can buy personal care items, or you can collect items from hotels when you and your friends and family travel.
• Socks......store bought socks are always needed.  You don't need to be a knitter, crocheter, or loomer to donate socks.  Socks for men is the primary need.  When living outdoors the danger of wet cold feet is very real.  To have warm dry socks to change into can help keep people alive.

**Did you see our donation stats for the last 5 years?
----Thank you to those who donated in 2017

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 Slipper Socks to Warm Homeless Feet

Thank you Paulette for these awesome warm slippers!  These slippers are nice and warm.....super thick.  People will love to put them on their tired, cold, and possibly wet feet.  Wonderful color selection, something for everyone.  Special thanks too Paulette for tagging each with size, it's so helpful and such a huge huge time saver for folks at the various shelters.

I keep saying I need to try and make a pair of these, haven't made it yet, but must put it on my to do list for 2018.  Have you sent me your pattern?

Many thanks for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond and Ohio's Homeless in Need.  Please keep up the good work.

DONATIONS 2017

HATS:  161

SCARVES (Gators, Infinity Scarves)  127

MITTENS:  +10

SLIPPERS: 51-13=38

RAIN PONCHOS: 205

COTTON WASHCLOTHS: +78

AFGHANS: 6
SOCKS: 106

Misc, Ponchos, shawls, headbands 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.

Hats and Scarves Warm Cold Homeless

Thank you Phyllis G for this thoughtful donation of hats and scarves.  I love how nicely you paired them to make sets!!  Great color choices.  Phyllis has also crocheted a pair of fingerless mitts..........always a hit, and a pair of slippers.  

Please click to enlarge so you can see one of the hat/scarf sets is an infinity scarf/mobius/cowl.

Many thanks Phyllis and please keep up the good work.

We're chipping away at our goal folks.  With 15 days left in the calendar year (though remember I traditionally don't close the year until all donations received by the end of year get blogged about and sometimes that goes into a week or two in January), we would need about 10.8 hats per day and 8.6 scarves per day to hit our goal of donating the same number that we donated last year.  I don't know how close we'll get,  but....please keep checking in to see.

Many thanks Cynthia and Juli, we hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

DONATIONS 2017

HATS:  171-8=163

SCARVES (Gators, Infinity Scarves)  139-10=129

MITTENS:  +9+1=+10

SLIPPERS: 52-1=51

RAIN PONCHOS: 205

COTTON WASHCLOTHS: +78

AFGHANS: 6
SOCKS: 106

Misc, Ponchos, shawls, headbands 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.

Thank you Emily K for your Crocheted Donation to Help Homeless

Thank you Emily K for your on going support of Bridge and Beyond.  Emily has been busy, as you can see with this thoughtful donation of crocheted goodies.  She crocheted 2 hats, a pair of mittens and a pair of slippers.  In addition, she's crocheted 5 kitchen scrunchie.  I am not sure what type of yarn/fiber is used for those scrunchies and or what pattern Emily used, but would like to know.  Looks like a useable item for the welcome packs Homeless Families Foundation puts together when people transition from shelter to their permanent housing situation.  I will try to follow up on this item and let you all know.  I think I'd like some for my own kitchen, how bout. You all?

Please keep up the good work Emily, and know you are appreciated.

2016 Donations:
HATS: 320-2=318
SCARVES (Gators, Infinity Scarves)263
MITTENS: 61-1=60
SLIPPERS: 53-1=52
RAIN PONCHOS: 205
COTTON WASHCLOTHS: 102-5=97
AFGHANS: 33
SOCKS: 120 
Misc, Ponchos, shawls, headbands 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.

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.