Jack Otis Memorial Month, the face of Homelessness

Meet my fellow classmate and friend, Jack Otis. By the hair style you might be able to guess the photo is from the sixty's. 1969 was the graduating year to be exact. Look at that infectious smile and twinkle in his eyes. Now for folks younger then me, seeing this picture -- you might be shocked to see someone dressed for their senior picture. Being barefoot, in casual clothes, outside leaning on a tree or sitting with the family pet was never ever done! The men always wore coats and ties, and the ladies always wore the same blouse for uniformity. Ladies could wear a fluffy cape looking thing the photographer supplied for an extra fee.

Jack Otis graduated from Whetstone High School back in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. Unlike most of my classmates I didn't know Jack for eons and eons. We didn't attend grade school and junior high together. His family didn't live in the same neighborhood forever, like so many of us. In fact, very little is known about Jack's family. Jack lived with his Dad. None of us knew anything about his mother, except that she wasn't around. Those who knew his home life, remembered his Dad as not being a particularly stable person. Jack was new to our school, he came from someplace in Kentucky. Some classmates believe he moved around a lot.

During those high school years, classmates remember Jack as fun to be with, perhaps even a bit on the wilder side. He was full of life, a bit ornery. Not wild as in bad, but not a mild quiet, stay to oneself type of person. He liked to drink PBR (translation for the younger set, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer). I should also add that drinking at age 18 was legal back in our day. We had what was called low beer, 3.2 and those 18-19 and 20 could drink that, but you had to be 21 to drink hard liquor and or high beer...high beer is the beer that's out now days. 3.2 no longer exists.

Jack like to drive around on old trails in his Bugged Eyed Sprite (sports car). He was chosen to be Nancy Edgars' escort for The Home Coming Court. That was a big deal, back in the day. Jack was popular folks. He was well liked, he was good looking guy...which you can clearly see from his picture.

He was born (as best I can tell from research) on June 14th, 1951. He died in the year 2000, alone and penny-less. He died homeless in the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona. He lived in a hobo camp outside the city limits and is buried in a small paupers grave in Pima County, Arizona. That area set aside in the cemetery for those without family, those who are indigent, those who have no means of another burial.

Did Jack choose this life? Did the life choose him? What happened to make this smiling good looking young man die alone and homeless? We know he chose to travel some after graduation, and for a short while, we know a fellow classmate gave him lodging in Tucson. That didn't last long, as Jack returned to the hobo camp and died sometime later. Did his sad unstable home life play into this? Who knows. But, this is the face of homelessness folks. I'm willing to bet you all have someone in your past with a similar story. He was someone's son. He was a friend. It makes me sad to know he's buried in a pauper's grave. The reality that truly anyone can be homeless is a sobering fact.

(thank you to A. Newman for taking the photo of Jack's stone, you can visit his virtual grave and leave a token if you like)
For years most of us didn't know where Jack was. Sadly, we found out when trying to locate classmates at reunion time. Would knitting or crocheting have changed things for Jack? I don't know, perhaps it would have given him hope to have a hand made item. I do know our hand knit hats, scarves, and mittens provide much needed warmth here in Central Ohio for the homeless, and can truly help someone live through a cold fall and winter and wet spring. And I believe HOPE is a powerful thing.

So, in honor of my friend and classmate Jack Otis, November will be Jack Otis Memorial Month and will focus on the needs of men, homeless men. It will focus on men who live outdoors, men who get a night here and there in a shelter, as well as Men living in temporary shelters/housing trying desperately to keep their families together.

Items needed are hand knitted, crocheted or loomed:
Hats
Scarves
Mittens
Person Care Items
Slippers
Socks (store bought)
Rain poncho's

Think warm, sturdy, color and size appropriate for adult males.

Help me honor and remember Jack and all homeless men.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 357
Hats 737
Mittens 143
Socks 147
Squares 516
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, head bands, soap, shampoo, combs, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions or yarn etc.

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 Socks for The Men

While at Sams the other day I picked up another pack of 12 socks for Bridge folks. Socks are always in need, summer, winter, spring and fall. Cold wet feet make everyone miserable so the need is on going.

Since tomorrow is November 1st, and our focus will be Men (the group most in need) through The Jack Otis Memorial Month, thought this would help to kick start it. October's mitten focus wasn't particularly successful so I'll also mention here Men who live outdoors need mittens to keep from getting frost bite.

As of the writing of this scheduled post, we've already experienced 2 mornings of heavy frost with about 10 nights of temps in the low 40's and 30's. Please think warm, as you think about items for our men. Please check in tomorrow for the official start of November's Jack Otis Memorial Month and our focus on Men in need.


2011 Donations:

Scarves 357
Hats 737
Mittens 143
Socks 135+12=147
Squares 516
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, head bands or yarn etc.

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!

Donations might become a Christmas Afghan

This red knitted strip (which I'm counting in the squares area), is being donated from my DD, Christine. She had some yarn left over and just felt like some knitting with nothing specific in mind. So she knitted until she ran out of yarn, figuring I could do something with it. Thank you darling daughter. Love you bunches!
Adding it to recently donated squares from Cheryl S...maybe it will become a Christmas Afghan? Hum....still thinking and need to look at all the other squares I have and see what might work. Rest assured, something will eventually pop into my brain.

Making a Christmas Ghan could be a wonderful item for Project Welcome Home for a family making the transition during the holiday season!

2011 Donations:

Scarves 357
Hats 737
Mittens 143
Socks 135
Squares 515+1=516
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, head bands or yarn etc.

**Using double yarn makes a slipper super warm and very sturdy, and or make two and put them together. Using different colors inside and out can make them reversible**

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!

Sandie's Super Soft Set Donated

Awesome brown crocheted set here from our long time friend Sandie in Louisiana. I love the color, I love that it's big enough for the men folk, and I love how super soft it is. Many thanks Sandie for your thoughtful donation. As always, your work is sooooooo nice. As we're fast approaching the month of November which will be Jack Otis Memorial Month and a focus on our Men...this is most timely.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 356+1=357
Hats 736+1=737
Mittens 143
Socks 135
Squares 515
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, head bands or yarn etc.

**Using double yarn makes a slipper super warm and very sturdy, and or make two and put them together. Using different colors inside and out can make them reversible**

When people ask me why I take time to knit/crochet? This is what I tell them. You've probably heard me say it before, but I continue to get the question....no doubt you do too.
The message behind a hand made item, be it knitted, crocheted or loomed is powerful. The message that someone you didn't know took time to make something especially for you is awesome, is powerful, is important. That's why we donated hand made items. We keep them physical warm...yes; but we offer hope because of the specialness with a hand made item. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the good work folks.

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!

Making Jewels from Donated Squares

I've batted around names for this ghan and have finally settled on Jewels. I started out with pastel jewels, then someone said it reminded them of birthstones, which are gems, which are jewels.....right? All the squares/rectangles are crocheted except the bright purple and the mauve one. Many of the squares were donated by Cheryl S, just recently HERE; I added others on hand from others donations and
have started edging in off white/ivory, as you can see. This ghan will be donated to The Homeless Families Foundation for our Project Welcome Home.

The message behind a hand made item, be it knitted, crocheted or loomed is powerful. The message that someone you didn't know took time to make something especially for you is awesome, is powerful, is important. That's why we donated hand made items. We keep them physical warm...yes; but we offer hope because of the specialness with a hand made item. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the good work folks.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 356
Hats 736
Mittens 143
Socks 135
Squares 515
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, head bands or yarn etc.

**Reminders:
Include a note with your donation
Do not tie and cut when changing yarn, leave several inches and weave in your ends
Avoid open lacy stitches, general rule of thumb if you can poke your finger throw the stitches, they aren't as warm as they could be.
Avoid white as much as possible, shows dirt too easily
Lots of info in FAQ and Before you donate

Did you know you can click on the tags of any post and be taken to previous posts from either that individual (if you click on their name), or other posts that have those words...ie. mittens, hats, scarves, socks, etc.? That way you can always look around the blog and see other items these folks have made, or see other similar items.


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!

International Donation!!

Lovely purple crocheted set of mittens, hat, and scarf donated by Damaris all the way from Puerto Rico! AWESOME. Very nicely made, love the way you trimmed it also Damaris. Thank you so much for your thoughtful donation. I could hardly wait to open the box when I realized where it came from. I was sooooooooooo excited I told everyone I came in contact with that day.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 355+1=356
Hats 735+1=736
Mittens 142+1=143
Socks 135
Squares 515
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 7
Slippers 90
Afghans 40 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
Misc Items I've not counted misc items like all the personal care items, the neck warmers, head bands or yarn etc.

**Reminders:
Include a note with your donation
Do not tie and cut when changing yarn, leave several inches and weave in your ends
Avoid open lacy stitches, general rule of thumb if you can poke your finger throw the stitches, they aren't as warm as they could be.
Avoid white as much as possible, shows dirt too easily
Lots of info in FAQ and Before you donate

Did you know you can click on the tags of any post and be taken to previous posts from either that individual (if you click on their name), or other posts that have those words...ie. mittens, hats, scarves, socks, etc.? That way you can always look around the blog and see other items these folks have made, or see other similar items.

The message behind a hand made item, be it knitted, crocheted or loomed is powerful. The message that someone you didn't know took time to make something especially for you is awesome, is powerful, is important. That's why we donated hand made items. We keep them physical warm...yes; but we offer hope because of the specialness with a hand made item. Thank you for all you do. Keep up the good work folks.

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!