Cotton Washcloths Donated for Homeless Shelters

Thank you Emily P from Ohio for this colorful array of cotton washcloths.  The shelters love getting these cotton washcloths for the folks.  Emily has also included some wonderful personal care items...something always in demand.

Emily is our newest pair of helping hands, welcome Emily.  Hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

Thought I mention I always collect the soaps, shampoo, lotions etc from the hotels when we travel, it's amazing how fast they add up.  Makes for a good way, without spending money to donate personal care items.  Do you travel often?  Does you hubby or co-workers travel for business?  Ask someone today to take a zip lock bag with them in their travels and bring back some goodies for you.  Sometimes you get a little sewing kit which is always nice, sometimes mouth wash...just depends where you go.

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  55
Scarves: 38
Socks: 28+2=30
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 10
Rain Ponchos: 2 
Cotton Washcloths: 12
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers etc aren't tabulated

**The focus for the remainder of January is slippers.  AND, we'll continue focusing on feet in February.  Cold, and wet feet are miserable.  So...for the month of February we'll continue with slippers as our focus AND add socks for the feet.  Socks are store bought and should be for men who live outdoors 99% of the time.  Remember to check out the slipper tab at the top of the blog for information about sizing, colors, styles, fiber type etc.  You might enjoy using one of the patterns available there as well.   February  continues to be about feet.**

****Are you aware of our addition of accepting quilted scarves, and quilts?  Are you up to speed and a member of our new Facebook Group?****


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Helping the Cold Homeless

 Thank you Dorothy M. for this donation that includes just about everything!  3 pairs of crocheted slippers (thank you for adding tags with size), 2 packs of rain ponchos, soap, hand/feet warmers, and 2 pairs of socks.  AND  Look at those cute lavender pouches.  Remember you can always click pictures to enlarge to see them better.  I left one pouch closed and opened one and slightly pulled out items inside so you can see everything.  Inside the cute pouch is a package of Kleenex, chap-stick and hand sanitizer.  What a nice idea!

Folks, this may be a silly question; but I'm going to ask anyway.  In the past I believe I've counted the ponchos individually, thus above would be 4.  However, as they're packaged together, not easily separated likely they're given out as a pack...thus 2.  You can't really pull one out and keep it folded for use later very well.  Sooooooooo, I think from here forward I should could the packs, not the ponchos.  Thoughts?

Dorothy's been a long time supporter here on Bridge and Beyond, thank you Dorothy.  Keep up the good work.

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  55
Scarves: 38
Socks: 26+2=28
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 7+3=10
Rain Ponchos: 2
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, handwarmers etc aren't tabulated

*Mentioned the other day I visited all 40ish blogs on the blog log in an effort to help spread the news, and encourage visits and comments.  Fingers crossed it helps.  AND just finished visiting everyone with a RAV profile page to do the same.  Don't want folks to forget about us, and or not be informed.   Always working to keep our name and cause out there.* 

**The focus for the remainder of January is slippers.  AND, we'll continue focusing on feet in February.  Cold, and wet feet are miserable.  So...for the month of February we'll continue with slippers as our focus AND add socks for the feet.  Socks are store bought and should be for men who live outdoors 99% of the time.  Remember to check out the slipper tab at the top of the blog for information about sizing, colors, styles, fiber type etc.  You might enjoy using one of the patterns available there as well.   February  continues to be about feet.**

****Are you aware of our addition of accepting quilted scarves, and quilts?  Are you up to speed and a member of our new Facebook Group?****

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Boxes of Donations Delivered for Ohio's Homeless

Leave town for a couple of weeks for a great vacation in Hilton Head, and when you return you get a "special delivery" from the post office.  How fun is that.

There are lots of donations here from lots of different states, all to help homeless.  Took me all afternoon yesterday too open all the boxes, take photo's, count items, and make notes prior to sending out email notifications/thank you's and posting same on our new Facebook Group Page.

Boxes and pouches arrived from: Mary H (OH), Sandra R (FL), Sarah S (VT), Wendy H and her sister Catherine (GA),  RoseMarie (TN), Joan A (MI), Sandie P (LA), Marie P (TN), and Maria R (TX).  WOW.  Many thanks to you all for your patience during my absence, it's appreciated.  We also received a couple of nice thank you letters which I'll also be posting about.  So, please keep checking in.  AND if you mailed something during the last couple of weeks and aren't listed above, please let me a comment.

As you read this post, I'll be busy writing posts for each of our wonderful donations.  Hope to see you all here reading and commenting...remember that too helps the group grow.

2013 has brought about some changes, some new ideas of ways to grow, and some new opportunities.  I do hope you'll read and keep up with all happenings here.  Truly, there's never a dull moment.  Have you noticed or taken advantage of subscribing via email?  It's in the right sidebar, thought it would be particularly nice for you folks who don't blog.  You can keep up that way, as posts will arrive in your email.  However, I would still encourage you to follow the link back here to leave comments.  Our good friend Sandie P. signed up to help me test how it works, and she says she LOVES getting the notices in her email.

AND speaking about changes.....

Have you heard we have a Facebook Group Page?
 Check it out, though ALL updates will appear here on the blog and it will still be the primary source of communication.  Links will be posted there directing you here in order to read the full content of posts and see pictures etc.  But, as one of the many goals for this group/blog for the year 2013; we're striving to reach more caring people in order to serve a larger number of people in need.  Please help us by visiting and chatting in the Facebook group as well as here on the blog.

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  55
Scarves: 38
Socks: 26 
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 7
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, and...

**The focus for the remainder of January is slippers.  AND, we'll continue focusing on feet in February.  Cold, and wet feet are miserable.  So...for the month of February we'll continue with slippers as our focus AND add socks for the feet.  Socks are store bought and should be for men who live outdoors 99% of the time.  Remember to check out the slipper tab at the top of the blog for information about sizing, colors, styles, fiber type etc.  You might enjoy using one of the patterns available there as well.   February  continues to be about feet.**

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Knitting for Homeless is Ongoing

I've been working on this afghan for sometime.  Off and on, because it's a bit tedious.  Knitted ghans take more time then crocheted ones and I like to change back and forth a bit on knitted and crocheted projects.  This afghan is called Sea and Sand and is over half done currently.  I plan to work on this for several more days and then, once again switch to crocheting.  I'll be selecting another one of the designed waiting in the wings ghans to work on, so stay tuned.

Yesterday I took time to visit everyone (40+) on the bloggers list of those who've donated.  I wanted to invite all to check out the new things going on here on Bridge and Beyond, and encourage visits and comments.  I do that periodically...you know that no doubt, if you're a blogger.  However, it seems many of those folks haven't blogged for a good long while.  I've thought this off and on, as I make my blog visits.  Some are so outdated, blogs from 2010 and 2011 that I'm not sure they'll actually even see my visit and or comments.  Depends on how they have their settings.  Generally, people receive email notifications when someone leaves a comment on their blog.  I do hope they see them.  However, I belief these inactive blogs/links hinder the blogs placement/google ranking etc.  I will be reviewing the list and moving the oldest/most inactive/(probably people who don't blog at all anymore) from the list.  I'll add their names and state to the list of those who don't blog.  If you used to blog and don't any longer, but have a Facebook and or Ravelry Profile page, please let me know and I'll add you to that list instead.

Have you read that we accept quilted scarves and quilts now on Bridge and Beyond?  Are you a quilter?  Do you know someone who is?  Please let them know, would love to have some quilts to put with our afghans for Project Welcome Home for our folks at Homeless Families Foundation.  Do you have blog friends who quilt?  If so, please send them our link.

Have you heard we have a Facebook Group Page?
 Check it out, though ALL updates will appear here on the blog and it will still be the primary source of communication.  Links will be posted there directing you here in order to read the full content of posts and see pictures etc.  But, as one of the many goals for this group/blog for the year 2013; we're striving to reach more caring people in order to serve a larger number of people in need.  Please help us by visiting and chatting in the Facebook group as well as here on the blog.

2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  55
Scarves: 38
Socks: 26 
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 7
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, and...

**The focus for the remainder of January is slippers.  AND, we'll continue focusing on feet.  Cold, and wet feet are miserable.  So...for the month of February we'll continue with slippers as our focus AND add socks for the feet.  Socks are store bought and should be for men who live outdoors 99% of the time.  Remember to check out the slipper tab at the top of the blog for information about sizing, colors, styles, fiber type etc.  You might enjoy using one of the patterns available there as well.   February  continues to be about feet.**

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Girls Scouts do More then Sell Cookies

Quick, what's the first word........the very first word that comes to mind when someone says and you hear, or you see, or you read the words, Girl Scouts?  I know.......dumb question....the answer is of course COOKIES.  We all have our personal favorites and probably order from several Girl Scouts every year.  My own, Darling Daughter was never in the Girl Scouts (nor was I); but she did spend an entire summer in a floor-less tent as a Camp Counselor at a Girl Scout Camp.  She even checked the kiddo's daily for Ticks...because of Lime Disease.  She was a Girl Scout Camp Counselor in Connecticut in the neighbor city where the disease originated.  

But, look above.  I don't see cookies, I see slippers, hats, socks, and personal care items for people in need.  Homeless and those in need in the shelters in Ohio will benefit from a groups of 13-17 year old Girl Scouts from Minneapolis.  These girls were affected by a tornado in 2011.  The girls and their families and friends received helped during a time in need.  The know first hand what it means to help someone in need.  To pay back the girls wanted a special Christmas project.  The girls in the troop didn't all know how to crochet, but they learned in order to help others less fortunate.  WOW....isn't that what we all would like our teenagers to learn?  To help others, to help others less fortunate.

The Girl Scout Troop did just that.  That learned to crochet and they made 33 hats of various colors.  Some hats are stripped, some are solid, and some are crocheted with variegated yarn.  Please click to enlarge to see what these young ladies accomplished.

Additionally, they crocheted 7 pairs of slippers, and 1 headband.

Our good friend, Marjorie organized the donation, and added personal care items and socks and took care of the postage for The Troop.  Well done Marjorie.  Thank you for making the connection, and spreading the word, and thank you for making it possible for a group of young people to give back.  That's what I call a win win situation.



  2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  22+33=55
Scarves: 38 (31 flannel and 7 quilted)
Socks: 6+20=26
Afghans: 2 
Slippers: 7
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, and...

**The focus for the remainder of January is slippers.  AND, we'll continue focusing on feet.  Cold, and wet feet are miserable.  So...for the month of February we'll continue with slippers as our focus AND add socks for the feet.  Socks are store bought and should be for men who live outdoors 99% of the time.   February  continues to be about feet.**


All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.

Desert Rose Afghan will be Donated

Desert Rose it is, see voting in the previous post.  Desert Rose has now been completed.  It's currently being laundered and blocked and will be donated to Homeless Families soon along with the other afghans collected since Christmas. 

I've barely started a group on Facebook and am still working at getting folks added to the group.  If you have a facebook profile and aren't yet in the group, please leave me a comment here and or on facebook so I can get you added.  I don't intend to use Facebook instead of the blog.  I'll be adding links there from here.  This will remain the primary source of information and communication...however, I know many of you don't blog and while I've tried to get everyone to read the blog regularly and leave comments I know many of you don't and or aren't comfortable doing so.  I think and hope we might reach others through Facebook.  PLEASE though do remember, traffic to the blog is what helps the blogs placement with search engines which is what drives our links and google rank which is very important.  So if you're on facebook and haven't been chatting here via comments, please do follow the links from the to here to read the full content of the blog posts, announcements, and updates.


 2013 Donation Totals 
Hats:  22
Scarves: 38 (31 flannel and 7 quilted)
Socks: 6 
Afghans: 1+1=2

All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated. The Power of One is awesome, and when we work together The Power of One becomes The Power of Many.