Homeless are People, Like You

All homeless are lazy bums, drug dealers, criminals ...right?  Isn't that what lots of people think, the people who don't want to help them, the people who say feeding them a hot meal will only promote more laziness and dependency?  And because they're all drug dealers, criminals you should be afraid them and wipe out their homes (areas where they collect to live under bridges, vacant lots etc.).  How often I've read such things on facebook and if you've not heard these sentiments from people, read articles supporting these statements and others I'd be surprised.

Meet Anthony Mendez, who as a 9th grade teen lived with his 3 siblings and his mother in South Bronx.  His best friend was shot, and a year later his family evicted from their home end up in a shelter.  Scary and demoralizing no doubt for this kid and his family.  He had to get up at 4:30 in the morning in order to get enough buses to get to school from the shelter.  I wasn't able to post the full story here, but do encourage you all to follow the link below to read his amazing and inspiring story and how he'll be The First Ladies Guest at the State of Union.

Please remember this story, and or the story about Leo Grand I posted HERE the next time you read or hear about all homeless being lazy, and criminals.  Please enlighten those that make these statements.   When someone asks you why you knit, or crochet and donate your gifts of kindness and Christian Love remember these success stories and keep your hands busy caring for others.  YOU are apart of something that truly does matter.  Thank you all, please keep up the good work.

Story Link Click HERE

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 Need Socks

Socks!  Nothing fancy, but oh so very very necessary, so needed and so appreciated.  When  you have cold wet feet, you are miserable.  Think of folks out in the elements, or those in shelters waiting on buses...warming them with clean dry socks is truly essential and can make a difference in their health as well.

Came up with some interesting facts about socks doing several google searches.  Socks are needed to absorb sweat, the foot is the heaviest producer of sweat in your bdy and can produce 0.25 pints of perspiration a day.  Wow.  Wearing socks can decreased the danger of frostbite in cold temperatures.

The earlierst example of socks comes from Egypt.  They are on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum from excavations from Oxyrhynchus.  They are split toes, so that the socks  could be worn with sandals.

At times in history animal skins were tied around the foot at the ankle, matted animal hair was also used for added warmth.  In the 5th century "puttees" were worn by Europeans, by Holy people.  The word puttees, meaning pure.  Some time later, socks were worn by the wealthy, by nobility.

In 1589 with the invention of the knitting machine socks could be made 6 times faster then hand knit socks, but hand knitted socks and machine knitted socks were equals through the 1800's.

Socks are an item anyone can donate, you don't need to be a knitter or a crocheter to donate.  Socks are collected and donated from primarily men, some women.  The need for children and teens is not as great.  Socks should be store bought vs knitted or crocheted.

Donated Socks:
2011......333
2012......281 (-52 less then previous year
2013......415 (+134 more then previous year
2014......199 (-82 less then previous year

average 307 which is 108 less pairs then we donated in 2014.

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.

Searching Bridge and Beyond

Have you noticed or used the search feature here on the blog?  You can insert your name for example and find all the posts where your donations have been blogged about.  The search feature works by sorting the tags I use when I write a blog post.  So, generally your name, the items you donated will appear as tags.  Likewise if you want to look at all the posts about slippers, insert the word slipper in your search.

I like to point that out from time to time, so you all can get the most of the blog.  Take  time, look around.  Maybe you want to review the blog post about Homeless Families Foundation,simply put that in the search window.

The beautiful tree has nothing to do with homeless, nothing to do with Bridge and Beyond, but isn't it beautiful.  I believe from memory, I took this picture one day while on a walk....just because it made me smile.  With snow, freezing rain and cold cold temps around the country...thought you might enjoy something from Spring.

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.