Mission Statement

Operations for Bridge and Beyond will cease on Dec 31, 2021, last mailing date should be Dec 24th

GOAL FOR AFGHANS

Afghans
Goal: 30
Start: #24
Current: 26
0.8666%
START
END

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Creating, Step One

pile of squaresThese are squares that haven't as yet gotten into a designed ghan. So, normally when I get the urge to create I dump the squares out stare at them. I sort them, usually by color and then after staring at them awhile I get ideas. So...this is step one!

I've not had a chance to get a badge made yet for May's Focus, but it's Scarves! Knitted, crocheted, loomed scarves. Scarves are needed for men, women, and children. Don't want you to stop working if you run out of ideas of what to make, think scarves.

AND
Have you read about the contest? Have you posted a comment you want to join in? Have you started commenting? Get busy folks, read all about it in the side bar. For the month of May, a blog comment contest where you can win a $40.00 gift card for JoAnn's.


2011
Scarves 174
Hats
277
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 74
Slippers 37
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)

Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 43

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!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

New Helping Hands for Ohios Homeless

items for homelessThank you Sara R from Ohio! Sara is our newest pair of helping hands and a fellow Ohioan. Welcome to the group Sara. We're happy to have you join us and to help with the cause of warming the homeless. It's always exciting to get new pairs of helping hands busy making donations. The above hats and scarves are mostly knitted. I love the soft aqua blue set, nice basket weave design, and I love the blue variegated set. Awesome colors. The red, black and gray scarf is crocheted.

Many thanks Sara for joining us, hope to see you often here on Bridge and Beyond.

2011
Scarves 171+3=174
Hats 274
+3=277
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 68+6=74
Slippers 37
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)

Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 16=27=43

**This is May 3rd, and I've neglected to indicate what our May focus is...where does the time go? Let's make Scarves our May focus. Knit scarves, crocheted scarves, and or loomed scarves. Scarves sized for Men, Women, and Children**

****AND, if you've not yet read about the May Comment Contest, please do. Through out the month of May your comments here can win you a fun filled shopping spree at JoAnn's. So, what are you waiting for? Read about it HERE. Get yourself signed up, once you do that....get busy and look around the blog and have fun commenting on each other's work!****
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!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

People Pulling Together Truly Can Accomplish GREAT Things!

We've hit the end of another month here on at Bridge and Beyond. I thought it appropriate to show you all what you've accomplished. Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen. Anyone and Everyone who things they can't help, who thinks doing something of value is up to someone else needs to see this. PLEASE encourage others to read this.

Today is April 30th, the last day of our April Showers Project. Tomorrow is May 1, the beginning of our Comment Contest.

This blog started on December 1st, 2008 and over time what we've collected has changed a bit which plays into the numbers. Have a look.

HATS, 368 +592+274=1,234 crocheted, knitted, and loomed hats have been donated by big hearted people like yourselves. These hats have been lots of different colors, lots of different sizes, and lots of different designs. Each of these hats has been given to someone in need. Some to men and women living outside in the cold elements of Central Ohio; truly homeless people who otherwise might not have stayed alive through the long bitter months. Some have been given to mothers and children being treated at 2 free clinics. These folks may have a roof over their heads; but many don't have heat and are barely a step above being homeless. Some have been given to mothers and children living in temporary housing who were abused and or homeless. Some to families obtaining a hot meal from Holy Family as they wait in line out in the cold. Some have been given to school children who come to school despite not being properly clothed against the elements. 1,234 hats made by your loving hands from Dec 1st, 2008 til today, April 30th, 2011.

SCARVES, 147, 340, 171=658. These scarves like the above hats have been knitted and crocheted and distributed to the same groups so desperately in need. Scarves can be wrapped around necks, across faces and mouths, put on top of hats for added protection. Scarves can help supplement a light weight jacket.

MITTENS, 66+151 +66=283 pairs of warmer hands.

SOCKS, 79+101+ 74= 254. Socks serve many purposes. Sometimes people need to change to a clean dry pair because their feet are wet and cold. Sometimes they need to add a 2nd pair to try to get a little additional warmth. Socks are needed 12 months a year, even during the warmer months for those folks who are homeless.

SLIPPERS: 34+37=71. Slippers like socks can help warm cold feet and are so very much appreciated by men spending a night in the shelter when perhaps their socks can be laid out to dry. They're needed by women and children living in temporary housing and provide comfort for all with little heat in the homes.

Afghans (ghans) 10+29=39. Afghans made from squares you've donated, as well as full afghans have been provided to Faith Mission for Mothers and Children who often have very little. Afghans can be used for comfort, and hope as well as needed warmth in temporary housing whether used on beds at night or to ward off drafts when thermostats are so low they're not keeping warm. Afghans have also been donated to Pine Street Inn, another group that serves to protect the homeless and abused so desperately in need.

SQUARES, 238+214=452 knitted and crocheted squares have been donated in order to make afghans for the those folks listed above.

PONCHOS 43. Ponchos don't replace a roof over someone's head, but they do help protect one against the cold wet rain. If people are able to stay dry, they will be more comfortable, more warm; and that's very important in trying to stay well.

You may be ONE person, but you can and do make a difference, the proof surely is listed above.

And since we're celebrating because of a number, the milestone of reaching 400 posts (this is now post #405), I'll through out some other numbers you might find fun to know. We have 45 people who've donated, and or helped who blog, or have a membership on Ravelry or Crochetville, or The Hive. Additionally we have 91 people who've donated who've found us on the net who're are not part of those above groups. Thus far we have identified that donations have come from 29 states which is 58% of the country...see map at the bottom of the blog.

This blog's received several awards which make me happy, hope you all realize you're a part of these. The top 100 crochet and knitting blogs, Humanitarian Award, Honest Scrap and Humane Award. You can click on any of these in the side bars.

Since we've started highlighting a specific item each month we've had The Rainbow Project, Give a Square, Toasty Tootsies, Sock it to Me, and April Showers. Stay tuned as I'll be announcing the May highlighted item next.

If you notice the tabs across the top of the blog you can click to get lots of questions answers with The Things you should know before you donate section, a flyer you can print to distribute, and patterns you can use.

AND starting tomorrow you can start commenting away to win a fun $40.00 shopping spree at JoAnn's thanks to a special secret donator. Click HERE for all the details.

Yes, people pulling together can truly accomplish great things. Thank you!

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!

Friday, April 29, 2011

PONCHO's for the Homeless

poncho'sPONCHO's. Awesome ponchos. psmflowerlady made a lovely comment where she indicated she would be spending part of the money she would otherwise have spent on sweets for Easter to buy Poncho's. Look at this wonder group of poncho's. Thank you Thank You Tammy! 27 Poncho's in all. This will be a huge hit.

This is April 29, and we've one day left in our April Showers project. That's not to say if you're able to send poncho's later we won't need or want them. As with our hats, scarves, mittens, etc we will continue to collect all items through out the year; but like to highlight a particular need each month. I'm very pleased with the 43 poncho's we've collected to date and Thank everyone who participated.

**Have you read about our $40.00 shopping spree at JoAnn's? If not...please do, so you too can have an opportunity to win May's Comment Contest and enjoy the $40.00 shopping spree at JoAnn's.

2011
Scarves 171
Hats 274
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 68+6=74
Slippers 37
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)

Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 16=27=43

**Please check back on May 1 to see what May's project will be.

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!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Socks are always a hit for the Homeless

socksAlways happy to receive more socks. The Bridge folks really enjoy getting new socks as do the men at the shelter. Many thanks psmflowerlady on RAV (Tammy) for your thoughtful donation. Dry feet makes such a difference in someone's comfort.

**Two More Days left for April Showers, details in the sidebar**

****Please read about the details of the Comment Contest, and stake your claim on the $40.00 shopping spree at JoAnn's. What crafter wouldn't be thrilled with that as the winning gift, click in the sidebar or on the words Comment Contest.


2011
Scarves 171
Hats 274
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 68+6=74
Slippers 37
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)

Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 16

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!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

New Helping Hands, Afghans for Faith Mission

Easter Log Cabin AfghanDoesn't this afghan look like a big Easter Egg! Lovely Spring Colors. This log cabin style afghan was crocheted by Joanie B in Ohio. Joanie is our newest pair of helping hands. Welcome Joanie, we're thrilled to have you join us and hope to see you around The Bridge often. Joanie is a friend of our friend Cindy whom I know you'll remember when I say Cindy and Rebeccah...the mother daughter team! Thank You Joanie for joining us, and Thank You Cindy for spreading the word and recruiting another pair of helping hands.
crocheted log cabin afghanAnother awesome afghan from our newest friend Joanie. Again many thanks! These ghans will be well received by those in need at Faith Mission.

**3 More Days for April Showers** Details in the sidebar.

***Yesterday the announcement regarding our month long celebration of our milestone of 400 posts was posted. Along with the details of the blog comment contest you don't want to miss! PLEASE scroll back to read all about it.***

2011
Scarves 171
Hats 274
Mittens (gloves) 66
Socks 68
Slippers 37
Ghans 27+2=29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 214
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 16

**If anyone is trying to post a comment and been unable to, please email me at sandycrochet@gmail.com. Over the last 2 days 2 people have indicated they had trouble. One of those has since been able to, so assume it was a weird thing. The 2nd one, well; not sure. Just don't someone not to be able to join in on the fun for the upcoming comment contest. Have had various people checking/testing this with a variety of computers, computer systems, and browsers and they report all is fine.**

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!

Where are You and Your Yarn From?

I'm trying to identify where everyone is from, partially for fun. Take a look at the map. Also, believe it will aid me in cases where we have several people with the same name. Please look at the lists of bloggers and non bloggers and see if I have the state you hail from. If not, please leave a comment and let me know.

Additionally, we've had help from Scotland, England, Germany Puerto Rico, Canada, and France! They don't appear on the map, but their help is still greatly appreciated.

Where The People Who Donate Come From, is your state represented?