Keeping Homeless Warm and Dry

Day 19 of Jack Otis Memorial Month

How high can you count? 6 doz socks (5 x 12) and 31 packs of double ponchos (62) from our good friend AnneMarie. Poncho's and socks are needed and appreciated all year long, but especially this time of year when being cold and wet can be disastrous for those living outdoors and those living in temporary and or insufficient housing. Being cold and wet is unhealthy and uncomfortable. So many thanks AnneMarie for your thoughtful and very useful donation for Ohio's Homeless.

Tips: Using double yarn makes nice thick, sturdy warm slippers.
Photograph and print the blog post to keep track of your donations if you need it come tax time.
Do not tie and cut when changing or adding yarn. Please leave a tail of several inches and work your ends in.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 379
Hats 853
Mittens 211
Socks 198+60=258
Squares 551
Rain Ponchos 84+62=146
Cotton Washcloths 338
Sweaters/Poncho's 9
Slippers 95
Afghans 43 (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.

**For those that like to work ahead, December's focus is squares. Information regarding size, color etc can be found through tabs across the top of the blog; as well as following the Welcome Home badge in the sidebar**

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!

Magnificent Mittens Donated

Day 18 of Jack Otis Memorial Month

Magnificent Mittens knitted and donated by our friend Sally (galsal on Rav). These mittens are wonderfully warm and super soft, and so well made. Many many thanks Sally....one of these days I hope to be able to knit mitts as well as you do. Thank you for your thoughtful donation and your on going support! The round containing holds 8 toothbrushes as well........thank you!

Please hop in tomorrow to see a pyramid of hope and kindness! You really don't want to miss it.

Have you read about my friend and classmate Jack Otis? If not, please do. Click on his picture in the sidebar. Being homeless has a face, one we all need to be aware of. Homeless people need us, need the warm we give with our donated knitted and crocheted items....AND they need the hope we offer them for a better time........the knowledge that someone cares, that they are thought of.

Thank you all for what you do, it's appreciated. In addition to your knitting, crocheting, and looming, could I ask that you help further by spreading the word. Tell someone about the need today.......a friend, a co-worker, a fellow blogger, someone on facebook, a neighbor, someone at church, or the grocery store were you shop. Each person you tell, is helpful. They may help us, they may know someone who can.


2011 Donations:

Scarves 379
Hats 853
Mittens 207+4=211
Socks 198
Squares 551
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 338
Sweaters/Poncho's 9
Slippers 95
Afghans 43 (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!

A Powerful Pile of Practical Goodness for the Homeless

Day 17 of Jack Otis Memorial Month

WOW...look at this powerful pile of practical goodness for our homeless in need donated by our friend Alexis! Those of you who visit and read the blog often know I sometimes go bonkers with the words...powerful pile etc. lol But, seriously......it's true. Donations for Ohio's Homeless is indeed a very powerful thing to do, AND this is quite a pile! Hats, scarves, slippers, cotton washcloths, squares for ghans, and socks.

Thank you Alexis for your on going support of our cause, it's greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work.

Folks....look at how our numbers are growing and growing. Each and every stitch helps someone in need, be they a man on the street, a woman or child in a shelter, or a homeless family living in temporary housing to keep from being on the street. We've added several groups to those we help so it's important and necessary to see those numbers grow. You are all fantastic!

2011 Donations:

Scarves 376+3=379
Hats 832+21=853
Mittens 206+1=207
Socks 185+13=198
Squares 543+8=551
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 335+3=338
Sweaters/Poncho's 9
Slippers 91+4=95
Afghans 43 (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!

Pink Pentuna in the Works

Day 16 of Jack Otis Memorial Month

You may remember seeing some of these squares when my friend and classmate Connie sent her donation. I've spaced them out alternating the 2 color combinations. Rather then making more of the circle squares, I thought it would be faster to edge and join to get this ghan out to some little girl for our Project Welcome Home. I've named it Pink Petuna. The squares with centers of purple are edge with a row of green and 2 of pink, while those with green centers are edge with purple and 2 of pink. I'll then join them in pink and do a border. Believe that will make a nice size ghan and still have some yarn left from Connie's donation for other projects.

As you know posts are scheduled ahead and this project is packed as I write this for a out of town trip, in my carrying on bag; so plan to work on it a lot while gone.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 376
Hats 832
Mittens 206
Socks 185
Squares 543
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 335
Sweaters/Poncho's 9
Slippers 91
Afghans 43 (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!

Donation Delivered in the Driveway

Day 15, Jack Otis Memorial Month
Thank you Cheryl G from Florida for the 11 knitted washcloths and 23 knitted hats. Cheryl is out newest pair of helping hands. Cheryl and I were classmates and therefore she too was a classmate of Jack's. Bill's too.

Cheryl was in town for a wedding and was able to hand delivery this donation. Wished we could have visited more, but I was zipping to the hospital. Still was wonderful to see her again, even though briefly there in the driveway.

Many thanks Cheryl for your thoughtful donation, hope to see you often here on Bridge and Beyond.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 376
Hats 809+23=832
Mittens 206
Socks 185
Squares 543
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324+11=335
Sweaters/Poncho's 9
Slippers 91
Afghans 43 (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!

Put your hands together for Mittens

Day 14 of Jack Otis Memorial Month


Fabulous mittens! These are all crocheted. Love the nice long cuff on the blue and gray pairs. That adds extra warm. So nicely made, Suzy D. And those nice large warm black, red, and gray ones are awesome! I've got to find some time to get some more patterns added to the site, would love to add the patterns you used. Are they patterns I can post?

Tip: Remember to leave tails of several inches when changing yarn and tug your ends in while you're crocheting and or knitting. Avoid tying a knot and cutting, almost guaranteed to unravel.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 376
Hats 809
Mittens 200+6=206
Socks 185
Squares 543
Rain Ponchos 84
Cotton Washcloths 324
Sweaters/Poncho's 9
Slippers 91
Afghans 43 (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!