Cotton Washcloths for Family Shelters

Pick a color!  Look at this awesome mound of fabulous crocheted cotton washcloths from our friend Dianne L. from California.  I love the variety is sizes and colors.  Also click to enlarge, look how she tied them...doesn't that make a nice package look to them.  All the family shelters love getting these cotton washcloths.  They are used as people enter the system and have nothing to get a nice shower, they used in move out packages when folks move from shelter living into permanent housing as both washcloths and dishcloths.  They are always needed, and always well received.

Nice work Dianne, please keep up the good work.  Hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.  

June is slipper month, hope we get huge numbers of slippers.  We need slippers for men, women, and children.  Remember slippers should be made nice and thick (no loose stitches please).  Please check the slipper tab for ideas about how to use double yarn, or chunky yarn, or how to put 2 slippers together.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369+50=419
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, 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.

Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets

Thought you all might get a kick out of this cute cartoon about how nuts we who knit and crochet are.  I can't remember if I saw this on Facebook or on LionBrands site; maybe both.  Anyway, thought it was cute and worth a repeat.

Hope you're all keeping busy now the weather has finally turned nice in most places.  We're still closing windows and putting on fleece some days/nights here.  Normally that's not the case for this time of year, it's been a bit wonky.  Do keep your fingers busy with hooks, yarn, and needles.  We like to collect and delivery our awesome donations all year long.....even in summer.

June is slipper month, hope we get huge numbers of slippers.  We need slippers for men, women, and children.  Remember slippers should be made nice and thick (no loose stitches please).  PLease check the slipper tab for ideas about how to use double yarn, or chucky yarn, or how to put 2 slippers together.


2013 Donations:

Hats:  374
Scarves: 289
Socks: 200
Afghans: 25
Slippers: 132
Rain Ponchos: 202
Mittens: 77
Cotton Wash Clothes: 369
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's: 10
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers, cowls/gators and all meal prep related items, 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.

Thank you, but No to Anonymous Donations

Anonymous donations came up the other day and it's not something I've blogged about in awhile, so thought it was time to discuss again.
**Isn't it nice when people donate anonymously, that means they don't need or want a public attention?**  Actually, no it's not nice in our setting for lots of reasons.

• In the past when I would receive a donation without a note, I would spend hours, sometimes days trying to determine from whom the donation came.  Why?  Because I don't have a way of knowing if they just forgot a note, or if they want to be anonymous.  It's not uncommon to get a heads up something coming your way, forgot to put a note in the box.  Since I can't look into my crystal ball to know if they forgot or if they wanted to be anonymous, I always expended lots of time and energy tracking people down.  All those I tracked down were in fact people who'd forgotten...so I really never assumed someone wanted to be anonymous.  Luckily, that particular problem has really lessened.  THANK YOU
• When a donation comes without a note, I'm not able to let the person know their items actually made it here.  Sadly, we have had a few situations with items lost in the mail, so it's best for everyone to know their items have been received...AND it saves them spending extra money to have it tracked.  (also less of a problem now with the changes in parcel post.
• Obviously for my record keeping anonymous is a problem.  I need my records to be visible and without question.  You can be anonymous on the blog, but not with me. 
• Sometimes I receive donations that aren't quite appropriate for our cause and it's important I have the ability to privately let the person know so they don't continue to send things that don't quite work.
• Sometimes I have items that require repair by me before they can be donated, and it's very important to communicate that so changes can be made in the future
• And..something I've never discussed here on line; but think perhaps it will help folks understand the magnitude of my being able to communicate with the individual, even if they wish to be anonymous on the blog. .. Bugs can nest in yarn and be transported from one house to another; bed bugs among them.  No, I've not had this happen; but I do know someone that has been unfortunate enough to be in that situation.  I did once, sometime back have a situation with yarn someone donated that I had to discard for related issues.  My apologies for feeling the need to post this; but as we grow it's sadly one negative by product of growth.

Some time back I indicated I could no longer spend the hours and days looking for people and therefore could not accept anonymous donations.  Thank you folks for understanding the ramifications.

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.