Slippers Warm Feet such a Relief

Think how much our feet do for us.  They support our whole body and when our feet hurt, or are cold, or wet or all the above we are miserable.  Think of the relief you feel when you put on a dry clean pair of socks or slip into a soft warm slipper.....ahhhhh.  You know, we all know that wonderful feeling.  Think of people in shelters who maybe washing out their one pair of socks for the night with nothing dry to put on and you can quickly see what relief a pair of slippers can bring.

Thank you Sherry C, our newest pair of helping hands for this thoughtful donation.  Folks you may not be able to see from the picture, but the slippers are both navy and black.  The slippers are a variety of sizes.  Sherry's hit everyone here with her donations slippers for men, women, and children.  Well done Sherry, we look forward to seeing you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

2014 Donations:
Hats: 6
Scarves: 8
Socks: 
Afghans: 6
Slippers: 1+6=7
Rain Ponchos: 
Mitten:
Cotton Washcloths: 13
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

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.

New Helping Hands from Ohio

Thank you Anna Marie M, fellow Ohioan for this thoughtful donation.  Anna Marie is our newest pair of helping hands.  Nice variety in sizes and colors in her crocheted scarves.  Love the texture in the royal blue scarf...click to enlarge to see the details.  Welcome to the group Anna Marie, hope to see you here often on Bridge and Beyond.   We now 2 Anna Marie's one from New York and one from Ohio, helping the group.

Have you checked out the working calendar folks?  Now through the end of February will focus on kids.  Hats, mittens, scarves, and slippers for toddlers through teens.  Be sure and use kid friendly colors....dark remember doesn't show dirt.

2014 Donations:
Hats: 6
Scarves: 4+4=8
Socks: 
Afghans: 6
Slippers: 1
Rain Ponchos: 
Mitten:
Cotton Washcloths: 13
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

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.

Donations Help Others

Oophs sorry folks had this ready to post, with the thought of coming back to actually write the post, and due to travel it got posted as scheduled, before I got back to it.

Thank you Ethan E for awesome donation of crocheted cotton washcloths, hats and scarves.  All are much appreciated.  And welcome to the group, we're thrilled you found us, and look forward t seeing you here often on Bridge and Beyond.  Please keep up the good work.

Folks, have you checked out the working calendar lately?  I've added about half the year in terms of our focus.  This year I thought we'd focus on groups in needs for a longer period of time, vs an item a month, as we've done in past.  For the duration of January and the month of February our focus will be kids.  By kids, I'm talking toddler to teens.  We've had requests from several schools in needy areas as well as shelters.  Apparently their supply of kids items has diminished.  We need hats, scarves, mitten and slipper suitable for kids.  Remember we do not donate baby items, but toddler through teens.  Colors should be dark and r bright, but not pastels due to the dirt factor.

2014 Donations:
Hats: 6
Scarves: 4
Socks: 
Afghans: 6
Slippers: 1
Rain Ponchos: 
Mitten:
Cotton Washcloths: 13
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

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.

Kids Need You

KIDS...kids we don't know are in need.  Think of the children in your life, your own, your grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  Think of the kids that live next door...their sweet faces could be here.  Kids of all ages, toddler to teen are cold and in need of our help.  We've just recently posted our totals for the year of 2013, and sadly our numbers of warm hats, scarves, mittens, and slippers are down from the preceding year.  We've had requests from several schools as well as shelters that they need help in supplying warm items for the kids in their care.

So, while the month of January is partly over, let's make the duration of the month and the month of February focus on kids in need.  We need warm knitted and crocheted hats, scarves, mittens, and slippers.  If you're able and want to make sweaters, and vests that would be awesome too.

Remember even a single hat will allow a school child to join his or her friends on the playground at school recess and not be singled out staying in due to lack of warm clothing when others are outside running and jumping as all children should be able to do.


2014 Donations:
Hats: 
Scarves: 
Socks: 
Afghans: 6
Slippers: 1
Rain Ponchos: 
Mitten
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

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.

First Donation for 2014

 Thank you Sheelagh S, our newest pair of helping hands.  WOW...what an awesome start to the year, 2014.  I LOVE the design in this afghan, and am most curious how you made it.  Can you leave a comment telling us about the pattern?  This afghan is beautiful, and the family who receives this is going to be beyond thrilled.  It's nicely sized for adults or teens, or for a family.  Likewise the colors are suitable for anyone.  Sheelagh we're thrilled to have you join us.  You can also see a pair of slippers in the picture folks.  Awesome.......and thank you for tagging them with the size.

 This sunburst style afghan will make some little girl and or female teen super happy.  Don't these bright cheery colors bring a smile to your face.  And normally sun isn't coming through my windows...while it might muck up the colors a bit....love having the sun shine through, even if just for a short while.

 This afghan has lots of neat texture.  I don't know what stitch or pattern to call this.  Anyone out there know?  Again bright cheery colors to put a smile on someone's face as they curl up in the love it was made with.

 This looks just like a quilt to me, no doubt it does to you all.  What an interesting pattern.  Sheelagh apparently doesn't sleep, or crochets in her sleep.  How in the world were you able to make so many beautiful afghans.  WOW...I'm truly impressed.

 Not sure you can see the texture on this one folks without clicking the picture to enlarge.  LOVE these colors and so will the lucky person/family who receives it.  Everyone loves blue regardless of age and gender.  I believe this is probably made with front and back post double or triple crochets?

Flowers...........who doesn't love flowers, and don't they make you think of spring and summer and better weather?  They sure do me.  As I'm typing this post (remember most post are typed and scheduled to post later), we're getting the rain, which followed the snow, which is to be followed by record breaking low temperatures.  Many businesses have already indicated they will be cold across the nation.  So, thinking spring, flowers, and pretty colors is foremost in my mind.

Beautiful work Sheelagh.  Welcome to our group, look forward to seeing you here often on Bridge and Beyond.

These afghans are a perfect way to begin our years worth of donations.  Afghans were one of the items we had fewer of in the year 2013 then 2012 (please scroll back to yesterday's post).  Thank you Sheelagh for starting us out on such good footing.

2014 Donations:
Hats: 
Scarves: 
Socks: 
Afghans: 6
Slippers: 1
Rain Ponchos: 
Mitten
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 
Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am
your God.  I will strengthen
you, Yes, I will help you, I
will uphold you with My
righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Folks, I wanted to share that scripture with you; as Sheelagh shared it with me.  She took time to attach that to each of her lovely afghans.  I'm not permitted to attach scriptures to our donations due to various shelters; but wanted to share it with you all.

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.

Toasting You Who Donated in 2013

While not the best of pictures, it's also not half bad...for me.  I am not photogenic.  This picture of hubby and I was taken by a friend in Cleveland we were skyping with.  It was her birthday and we were toasting her.  We had cocktails together via skype, lol.  Kinda fun folks, almost like being in the same room with someone.  I was drinking a Dirty Martini, and hubby a Manhatten.  And so, I'm using this picture to toast to you ALL who knitted, loomed, and crocheted to help warm Ohio's homeless during 2013.

Thank you for your hard work, it is truly appreciated.

Folks here's a copy of my post about this time last year where you can see our 2012 totals compared to the previous year, 2011.
Donations: 2012 

Hats 1052  (83 more hats then we donated last year)
Scarves: 666  (195 scarves over what we donated last year)
Slippers: 153 (25 over last year)
Sweaters, Ponchos, Shawls, vests:10
Afghans: 55  (same as last year)
Mittens: 300 (42 more then last year)
Squares: 966 (114 more then last year)
Socks: 281 (52 less pairs then last year)
Rain Poncho's 213 (3 less then last year)
Cotton Washcloths 577 (288 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)

And now Here's our totals for the year 2013 compared to 2012.

2013 Donations:

Hats: 1004 48 less then 2012
Scarves: 622  44 less then 2012
Socks: 415 **134 MORE then 2012
Afghans: 53 2 less then 2012
Slippers: 220 **67 MORE then 2012
Rain Ponchos: 208 5 less then 2012
Mittens: 178 122 less then 2012
Cotton Wash Clothes: 784 **207 MORE then 2012
Shawls, Sweaters, Vests, Poncho's, Skirts etc. : 17 **7 MORE then 2012

Misc. Items: include personal care, headbands, hand-warmers, cowls/gators/neckwarners and all meal prep related items, Dolls, associated items, stuffed/crocheted/knitted toys... etc aren't tabulated

Though I am sad to report our numbers are indeed down, I do thank everyone who participated with their thoughtful donations.

I am hopeful we'll do better in the coming year with our numbers.  The more we knit and crochet and collect, the more we donate, the more people we make warm.  The items needed for warmth, hats, scarves, mittens are all items we're feel behind in.  Could I ask that we focus more on those items and less on the cotton washcloths.  While the cotton cloths are used and appreciated and nice to have, they're not the items that keep someone warm.

I am behind getting the working calendar up for the year of 2014...but do keep checking in.
                                                                                                                          
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.