Helping Hands Keep Heads warm with Hats for the Homeless

We have some new helping hands. Please wave hello to Jackie M. a friend of DaMary's.

What a nice think, soft and warm hat this is. Awesome colors! Many thanks Jackie for joining in, we appreciate it. Drop us a note in the comment section and let us know if you have a blog, or facebook page and what state you're from. Love to get it added to the blog.

A few days ago I posted a rather shocking statistic about 9 years old being the average age of homelessness nationally. If you didn't get a chance to read that post, please do. Click HERE. We have through our last couple of years collected more hats for kids then adults, mittens too. These items for kids have been donated to the shelters and the 2 free clinics and directly to some schools. I wanted to re-state that we have been donating for children's benefit so folks didn't get the impression we were only donating to adults and totally switch gears to only making items for children. To date, the group we collect the least for is adult men.

I will be launching a program called Welcome Home in the next couple of days, so please keep checking in for the post. This will be tied into our recent mission expansion that includes The Homeless Families Foundation in the list of those we help. If you've not yet read the post about that, please do, HERE.

**the large amounts I stocked piled during the summer months donations have been delivered to Rae for the clinics and Bridge Folks, Lynn for Holy Family, and Karie for The Homeless Families Foundation.** It was wonderful to have such a nice stockpile on hand and be able to beat the weather turning cold. Yesterday it was 43 here for a good portion of the day. Folks, that's only 11 degrees above freezing!! So please keep those hooks and needles busy.

**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 285
Hats 581+1=582
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
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!

Scarves and Scarves

Look at these marvelous scarves from our newest pair of helping hands, Denise F in Louisiana. Denise scarves are all crocheted and are various sizes. The variegated one on the right side of the picture is sized for adults, while the others are various sizes for the kiddo's. Can't you see those 2 pinks ones making a little girl feel special!

Thank you Denise for your thoughtful donation, it's very much appreciated. AND welcome to the group, we're thrilled to have you join us and hope to see you frequently here on The Bridge.

As I type this blog post I realized this is post #493.......can you believe we're that close to hitting 500 posts here on this blog! Very cool, each of those post represents thoughtful donations of knitting, crocheting, looming etc. Thank you all.

**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 285
Hats 581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
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!

A SHOCKING Fact about Homelessness

Did you know the average age of a homeless person Nationally is a 9 year old child? Think of the 9 year children you know, those who live next door, those in your classroom if you teach school, those nieces, nephews, grandchildren and children not only in your family; but in the families of people you know. I'm betting the news that the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old makes you sad, makes you shudder, makes you sigh with a heavy heart. Don't despair and throw up your hands, join me and others here on Bridge and Beyond and help us build a bridge from Homelessness to Hope. That's being done everyday through The Homeless Families Foundation. The Foundation provides shelter, guidance, and after school programming to keep children and their families safe until such time they can move into permanent housing.

There are many stories of how families become homeless and their struggles. A sad statistic is the children. Children typically fall 2 years behind their counterparts in school. When you don't know if you'll have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, or a meal it's awfully hard to focus on learning. The Foundation provides the safety net of a place to live (temporary housing for up to 3 months), they also provide day to day essentials. While counselors work with the adults to provide them with the tools they need to successfully care for their families (jobs and housing), they work with the children; planting the seeds of hope. After school programs, and summer programs provide safe, educational and enrichment programs to help the children reach their potential. Hot meals are provided, along with homework assistance through the Dowd Center.

This year The Homeless Families Foundation celebrates it's 25th anniversary, helping families since 1986.

As you know we knit, we crochet, and we loom all year long. Throughout the summer months I'm able to stock pile your wonderful and thoughtful donations to be ready when summer ends to care for those in need. We've supplied hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, socks, and personal care items to men and women living outdoors in the elements (Bridge folks), Faith Mission both the day to day portion for men, Nancy Place for Women, 2 Free Clinics who care for Mothers and Children in need, Holy Family (feeds hundreds of homeless and others in need daily), and now The Homeless Families Foundation.

The work you do does make a difference, each and everyday.


**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 285
Hats 581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)

My challenge for you all (besides continuing to knit and crochet and loom), is to tell at least 1 person today about homelessness. Tell one person today about the problem and the need for their help.

THANK YOU for all you do, keep up the good 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!

Helping the Homeless from Crochetville

Thank you Liz (minnisoda from the Ville) for your fabulous and thoughtful donation! Liz's skilled hands have helped us many times and her on going support of Ohio's Homeless through her knitting and crocheted donations is very much appreciated. Above you see 34 squares (both knitted and crocheted), 5 hats (one with a matching scarf), toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant.

**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+285
Hats 576+5=581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 420+34=454
Rain Ponchos 80
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!

Hats, and ponchos, and Socks Oh My !

**Made correction on this post about yarn
My apologize, apparently mixed up 2 notes of ladies who donated yarn. Have corrected it to be Beth, many thanks Beth.

I love love love this hat. Isn't it darling! Such a pretty color and the design with the wee bit of white, some young lady/teen girl/young adult is going to be thrilled. Not only will she be warm, she'll be styling. Had to show you a close up of this hat. With a little reminder, all photo's are clickable to see them larger, see them in more detail. This hat comes from our friend AnneMarie in New York. Can you share a link for the pattern to this hat? I'm wanting to add some items to our pattern page and think this would be an excellent one to add. Nice and warm, solid stitching etc.
Here is AnneMarie's full donation. All the hats (15) are awesome, and you can see the pattern I liked so well above is repeated in the blueish one on the bottom of the picture. Some of these hats are crochet, and I think a few are knit? The cable hats? Did you knit or crochet those?

6 pair of socks, as you know we can't get too many of those. Cold wet feet make everyone miserable, so our warm dry socks are always well received. AND 10 double packs or rain poncho's.....Nice!

Many thanks AnneMarie for your thoughtful donation and continued support.


**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+15=576
Mitts 133
Socks 109+6=115
Squares 420
Rain Ponchos 60+20=80
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!

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!