Updates for Helping Homeless

I've spent some time updating various parts of our blog over the last couple of weeks, and I know we have lots of new helping hands who may not be aware of some of the information here on the blog. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all about some of the newest items, and remind others of some information as we shift gears and prepare for our busy and cold months ahead.

TABS
There's a tab area across the top of the blog with LOTS of information. PLEASE read the Before you donate FAQ section, as it addresses many questions I get in emails. Additionally there are tabs with the headings How You Help, Printable Flyer, Patterns, Working Calendar, and Give a Square. In these sections are guidelines for appropriate yarn type and color and some sizing guidelines.

The People We Help(sidebar)
The Mission has been expanded to include helping The Homeless Families Foundation. Information about it has been added both in both this section and to the Mission section of the blog.

Working Calendar
I've updated the working calendar area to show squares will again be collected during the month of December. Currently only 1 month remains to be determined.

Knitting and Crochet Reminders
Please avoid white and lots of ivory in your items. They get dirty easily and laundry is very limited for some of our folks.
Please avoid lacy and or open stitches/patterns (rule of thumb, if you can see your hands through the item, it's probably to lacy)
Please avoid using suede fibers
Please avoid tying a knot and cutting after the knot. I have had to repair some items, some have been beyond my ability to repair when they've raveled. Always leave a tail of several inches after joining new yarn, AND work in all tails (except when making squares....leave final tail on squares).

BLOGS
Do you have a blog? Is your blog listed in the blog log? If not, please forward your blog url's so it can be added to the blog log. Typically, I add a link to the blog when I add the post about your first donation. If, after donating you've started a blog....please let me know so it can be added. I do blog walk and enjoy reading and commenting on your blogs, and hope you all visit each other as well.

Ravelry, FaceBook, Crochetville
Do you belong to any of these forums? If so, zap me your profile page link/url. I've added a separate listing of these links, particularly where you're not a blogger it's nice to have the connection.

Non-Bloggers
Please feel free to comment on the blog, you do not need to be a blogger to do so. Type your comment, click the drop down box where it says name and url, simply leave the url space blank. Everyone enjoys encouragement and kudos on their hard work; and leaving comments...spending time looking around the blog helps the blogs placement with SEO (search engine optimization). The higher we place, the easier we are to find, the more helping hands we get, the more people we can warm. Comments Do Matter.

MAP
Please check your name (bloggers list, non bloggers list, and RAV, FB Ville list). Is your state listed with your name? If not please leave a comment telling me where you're from. I started the map after many of you had already donated. I would love to have all lists show what state you're from so we can plot it on the map. Thus far we have 30 states listed for a 60% participation. Are you from a state not yet listed on our map?

States with no donations currently noted are:
Alabama
Alaska
Connecticut
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Utah

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 561
Mitts 133
Socks 109
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

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!

Help for the Homeless from New Jersey

Yarn, socks, and a crocheted hat from our newest pair of helping hands, Jessica S from the state of New Jersey. 8 pairs of socks are always wonderful, and the hat is nicely sized for a female adult or older teen. I believe the hat is made with single crochets which makes it nice and warm. Welcome to the group Jessica, we're always happy to have more helping hands. Hope to see you often here on The Bridge. Many thanks for your thoughtful donation, it is greatly appreciated.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560+1=561
Mitts 133
Socks 101+8=109
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

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!

Donating Yarn to Help our Homeless

**Had notes mixed up, this donation came from Beth in West, not Laurie as I originally stated. My apologize Beth, just found my note and realized I had flip flop your yarn donations.

Lots of pretty yarn, soft yarn appropriate for the wee ones here. Can't you see some baby blankets? I sure can, and maybe booties,,,AND more. AND
Lots of knitted worsted weight yarn here with a rather large selection of colors. This yarn has been donated by our newest pair of helping hands, Beth. I got to meet Beth in person. Had a very enjoyable time visiting and getting to know each other. Thank you Beth. Some of this yarn has already been boxed up to send onto some helping hands low on yarn, and likely I'll use some and be able to pass along some more.

Thank you Beth, was great fun meeting you!

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)


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!

Donating Personal Care Items for Homeless

Thank you AnneMarie in New York, lots of goodies here folks. 25 Cotton Washcloths, and soap, razors, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes to match up with them for some wonderful personal care packages. Some of the washcloths are squares, some round, some octagons. Very cool!

Anne Marie is our newest pair of helping hands. YIPPEE, always great to have more help. Thank you Anne Marie for your thoughtful donation, and welcome to the group. Hope to see you often here at The Bridge.

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280+25=305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

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!

Homeless Children and their Families

Folks I've mentioned off and on over the last couple of weeks the possibility of expanding out mission, expanding the people we help. It is official. I've added The Homeless Families Foundation to to our Mission Statement above.

I've reviewed their webpage, and been in contact with Karie Gallegos, Resident Support Manager. This agencies is celebrating it's 25th year of operation. It is located on Broad Street in downtown Columbus. It provides housing for 47 families. The Homeless Families Foundation's mission is to provide shelter, support, stability, and nurturing for homeless children and their families. Families are provided with temporary furnished housing for up to 3 months while assistance is given to get the family back on their feet, find permanent housing etc. Additionally, a wonderful after school program is provided.

While I'm sad the need for families exists, I am happy we will be able to reach more folks in need; through your continued support. The weather is turning here in Central Ohio, the need for warm items if fast approaching. I'll be delivering a large donation, some of our summer stock pile to these children and their families. Many thanks for all your help with your thoughtful and lovingly made knitted and crocheted items. Please keep up the good work.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **

If you didn't get a chance to watch the video I posted a couple of days ago, please click HERE,
to learn more about this local organization that helps homeless children and their families.

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!

Homemade Items for The Homeless

Our friend Yvonne has once again donated, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and 3 lovely warm knitted hats! Hats as always are so nicely done, great colors, soft, thick and warm. Many thanks Yvonne for your skillful hands and your ongoing support. We truly appreciate you, as do the homeless here in Ohio that you donate too.

**From now until October 8, one month from today I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out a box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. ** After all, scarves are our highlighted item for September so this seems to make good sense.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 284
Hats 557+3=560
Mitts 133
Socks 101
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60
Cotton Washcloths 280
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)


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!