Homeless are Aided by Helping Hands

  Many hands make the work light.  I think that's the way I remember the quote?  New helping hands are always heart warming.  Here are 6 hats, 2 scarves, and 12 pairs of socks from 2 new pairs of helping hands, Dorna C and Casey B.  These ladies are in a church group together and have joined forces to warm those in need.  They've helped by knitting and crocheting, and they've helped by spreading the news to others in their church group.

Thank you ladies, and welcome...we're always thrilled to have more helping hands.  We hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

**Remember folks, for the time being I am done collecting squares.  I need to make some room and will put out a call for more squares after getting more afghans assembled.  Until then, please hold mailing your 8 inch squares.  And if you're making and storing them, please please, remember to work in your tails as you go (except for the final one).  Do not tie a knot and cut when changing yarn...when you do that they NEVER hold together.**

Donations: 2012 

Hats 985+6=991  (22 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 631+2=633  (162 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 146 (18 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:9
Afghans: 45  10 short of last years
Mittens: 299 (41 more then last year)
Squares: 950 (98 more then last year)
Socks: 196+12=208 (125 less then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 568 (277 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

**I will continue to add numbers to the years totals after Dec 31st, so all donations received by years end will be counted in the year they are received.  Since each donation is a day, they will be some over flow into January.  Thus year end numbers won't be finalized until then.*


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!

Christmas Store at Homeless Families Foundation

 A few days ago, when I made a delivery to Homeless Families Foundation, I got to see The Christmas Store first hand.  It takes many volunteers to put this together, and many donations of toys, cloths and more.  The room is brightly decorated and items are divided by age.  Families get to pick a specific dollar amount.  So, in fact they get to shop for their children and make selections appropriate for their families.  Volunteers bag and wrap their items.  It's well organized and wonderful to see the involvement.

Well done Homeless Families Foundation.  They accept household items, and monetary donations all year long.  They accept volunteer help all year long.  If your local, get involved.

This organization is one of the family shelters we donate our hand knitted and crocheted items (hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, and cotton washcloths) as well as personal care items too.  Additionally, we donate afghans...both those you make yourselves and those I assemble from your donated squares.  These afghans go in their moving out kit.  It's a way to say, "Welcome Home"; once they move from shelter living into their permanent housing situation.  I'm sorry I didn't think to take a picture when there, but wanted to share the information with you. 



Donations: 2012 

Hats 985  (16 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 631  (160 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 146 (18 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:8+1=9
Afghans: 45  10 short of last years
Mittens: 299 (41 more then last year)
Squares: 950 (98 more then last year)
Socks: 196 (137 less then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 568 (277 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

**I will continue to add numbers to the years totals after Dec 31st, so all donations received by years end will be counted in the year they are received.  Since each donation is a day, they will be some over flow into January.  Thus year end numbers won't be finalized until then.*


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 from Texas Help Ohioans Keep Warm

4 Crocheted scarves from Linda J. from Texas.  Many thanks Linda for your thoughtful donation.  4 People will be warmer.  You asked in your note accompanying your donation if we collected cotton dishcloths all year long...we collect cotton washcloths all year long.  Believe most of the time they are used with the personal care contributions vs dishcloths; but probably also for dishes when packed in the moving out kits from the various shelters.  There's a tab labeled cotton cloths that any updates will be posted to.

Thank you for your support.

**Reminder for those donating afghans, be sure and launder and block your afghans.**



Donations: 2012 

Hats 985  (16 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 627+4=631  (160 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 146 (18 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:8+1=9
Afghans: 45  10 short of last years
Mittens: 299 (41 more then last year)
Squares: 950 (98 more then last year)
Socks: 196 (137 less then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 568 (277 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

**I will continue to add numbers to the years totals after Dec 31st, so all donations received by years end will be counted in the year they are received.  Since each donation is a day, they will be some over flow into January.  Thus year end numbers won't be finalized until then.*


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 Scarves for Ohio's Homeless

Crocheted hats and scarves from Marie Anne include a very pretty matching green set.  Click the picture to enlarge so you can the detail/texture in the green hat.  Very nice.  Many thanks Marie Anne for your continued support of our cause, we surely appreciate your hard work.

Marie Anne has started a facebook group to collect 6 inch squares to assemble into afghans for the grieving families from Sandy Hook.  If you're able to help her with making squares and or assembling afghans, please check out the details here.  Such a sad situation.

**Edited on Dec 28th...please hold making squares for above Facebook Group.  The future of the group is unknown, as Sandy Hook has asked that people please stop sending gifts.  How wonderful it is they've received more then they can handle.  Shows how caring everyone is.  **

**If you're making and donating an afghan for Bridge and Beyond, please remember to launder and block....it really finishes them.  They lay nicer, are softer, and you're able to remove hair and oils when you launder.  You truly can block acrylic.  I wash in cold and delicate and when I lay them out to dry, shape them.  Sometimes you need a tug here and then to even up the edges**


Donations: 2012 

Hats 982+3=985  (16 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 618+9=627  (156 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 146 (18 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:8+1=9
Afghans: 45  10 short of last years
Mittens: 299 (41 more then last year)
Squares: 950 (98 more then last year)
Socks: 196 (137 less then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 568 (277 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

**I will continue to add numbers to the years totals after Dec 31st, so all donations received by years end will be counted in the year they are received.  Since each donation is a day, they will be some over flow into January.  Thus year end numbers won't be finalized until then.*

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!

Boxes of Donations for those in Need

 Here's Box #1 from a good friend, Annemarie from New York.  Hats, scarves, chapsticks, razors, and heat packs.  You know how what a wonderful donation this is.  Heat packs will help warm hands and feet of those out in the elements.  And dry cracked lips hurt, so chapstick is fabulous too.  Thank you Annemarie for all you do.

 Here's the goods from box #2, more scarves, some slippers, and an awesome sweater!

 I paired one of the scarves in this close up of the sweater so you could see how awesome it is.  I bagged it this way as well when I delivered this sweater and scarf to Homeless Families Foundation the other day.  A fabulous donation, as always Annemarie, many many thanks.

**Reminder to please remove hair from your donations (both pet and human) with a lint brush/roller or launder if it's excessive**

Donations: 2012 

Hats 975+7=982  (13 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 608+10=618  (147 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 143+3=146 (18 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:8+1=9
Afghans: 45  10 short of last years
Mittens: 299 (41 more then last year)
Squares: 950 (98 more then last year)
Socks: 196 (137 less then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 568 (277 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

**I will continue to add numbers to the years totals after Dec 31st, so all donations received by years end will be counted in the year they are received.  Since each donation is a day, they will be some over flow into January.  Thus year end numbers won't be finalized until then.*

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!

Unknown Crocheter in St. Louis Donates to help Ohioans

This donations of hats and scarves comes from an UNKNOWN Crocheter from St. Louis.  That's what was listed on the mailing label.  A variety of colors in both hats and scarves, as well as sizes.  We're always happy to have new helping hands for our cause.  I'm ok with someone wanting to be anonymous here on the blog; however for my records I truly do need to know from whom the donations come from.  That's why I work so hard trying to find people through Rav, Facebook, my emails, blogs etc when I get a donation I can't match up.  It's important, I know I sound like a record here on replay....that even if you wish to be anonymous here on the blog, YOU MUST include a note with your name and your email address with your donation.  Simply state on the note you wish to be anonymous on the blog.

So...please unknown crocheter from St. Louis, if you're out there reading this blog post, send me an email, and remember to include your name and email in your next donation. 

Donations: 2012 

Hats 961+14=975  (6 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 595+13=608  (137 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 143 (15 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:8
Afghans: 45  10 short of last years
Mittens: 299 (41 more then last year)
Squares: 950 (98 more then last year)
Socks: 196 (137 less then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 568 (277 more donated then last year)
Misc Items are not counted individually (such as personal care items, headbands, gators, yarn, wrist warmers/fingerless gloves, face-masks, neck warmers, t-shirts, soap, deodorant, shampoo, toothbrushes, hand and foot warmers Teddy Bears and footies etc)

 **Remember folks to avoid the use of white, off-white and tan with all your donations, and avoid the use of novelty fibers and suede.  Novelty fibers and suede aren't sturdy washable fibers.  All items have their own tabs across the top of the blog indicating size, color, and fiber requirements.  Please make sure you're current on those requirements so items being donated are appropriate for the cause.  Email me with any questions, 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!