Sunday Wrap of the A-Z Challenge and the Purple Iris Afghan

Purple Iris after being designed.

Purple Iris after it's been completed!  The colors haven't changed, but you know how different things look with different lighting.  First picture was taken with a bit more natural light in the room, and the completed picture with lots of lights on, as it's a dark dreary rainy cold day here in Central Ohio.  This afghan in waiting traveled to Vermont recently and was assembled beautifully by our friend. Sarah S.  Many many thanks Sarah for taking on this project to lend me a hand, much appreciated.   You matched the lavendar perfectly with your edging and joining.  I think the real color of the ghan is somewhere between the 2 pictures, lol.

Happy Sunday one and all, there is no official A-Z post required on Sunday.  It's suppose to be a day off, however I've tried to keep the momentum going and have posted all the Sunday's in April, hoping for extra coverage for Bridge and Beyond.

For those who may be here the first time, Welcome.  One of the items we make (Knit/crochet) and donate here on Bridge and Beyond is afghans.  There are given as a special Welcome Home Gift to families when they transition from shelter living to their permanent housing situation.  Truly something to celebrate.  We celebrate with them, congratulate them and wish them well for the future with our gifts of homemade afghans.

Again many thanks Sarah!

2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 179
Scarves 67
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 45
Slippers: 50+13=63
Rain Poncho's:  53
Cotton Washcloths: 109
Afghans: 6+1=7
Socks: 126
Cowls 12
Shawls 1
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

**If you missed any of the A-Z Challenge posts, please please do stop and read them.  My hope is to further educate people about what it's like to be homeless, to better understand the nature of this sad situation.  The more we know, the better chance we have of helping.  I also desperately want to dispel the notion that it couldn't happen to you and your loved ones.

A=Afghans, Family Heirlooms
B= Bridge and Beyond, Behind the Scenes
C=What is Crochet
D=Donations
E=Exposure Kills Homeless Vet
F= Crying and Homeless and Freezing Temperature
G= Gubbio, A Homeless Project, St. Boniface Church
H=Hobo and Homelessness
I= Inspiration
J= What is Joy
K=Knitting
L=Knitting Looms
M=Mittens, Knitted, Crocheted or Loomed
N=Caring for the Needy
O=Jack Otis, Classmate, Homeless
P=Policing the Homeless
Q=Quilting Can Warm Those in Need
R=Helping Homeless with Rain Poncho's and Recycling
S=Shelter Living and the Homeless
T=Tent Cities for Homeless
U=Living Under the Underpasses
V=Homeless Veterans, Rest in Peace


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.

Homeless Veterans, Rest in Peace 1st Class Jerome Murdough

A-Z Challenge = V=Vets, Vagabond, Vagrant, Vulnerable and Victim

The map above represents cities that have signed onto The Major Challenge to reduce homelessness of Veterans in their communities.  Michele Obama spearheaded this program in June of 2014.  The programs tracks the Vets in order to know how many there are, whether or not they've found housing and or are still homeless.  Reducing the number of Homeless Veterans was a goal of President Obama's since 2009.  The data in 2014 indicated Nationally, there was an average of 49,933 homeless Vets in a single night, those numbers are down 14k from 2013, and 33% lower then there were in 2010.

Homeless Vets can be as anyone from WWII forward, though stats indicating Veterans of Vietnam may be the most at risk.

Jerome Anthony Murdough was a US Marine.  This man died a very sad death at the age of 56 while in custody in New York's Riker's Facility.  What happened to him, sadly  represents a trend around the country.  Homeless are treated as criminals, arrested rather than helped.  The report I read indicated 3 major mistakes took place, causing this man.......this Veteran's death.

1. He was arrested instead of helped.  He had a mental illness, he was homeless, he was arrested for sleeping in a stairwell, he was arrested for trespassing.  Sadly, it wasn't the first time he had been arrested for similar problems.
2. Once arrested his bail was set at $2,500.00, a fee that of course he could not pay, (typically prohibitive bail is set).
3. Due to his mental illness, he was incarcerated in a special observation cell that measured 6 x 10.  These observation cells are suppose to be monitored once every 15 minutes.  His dead body was found 4 hours later.  He was dehydrated, died of a heat stroke in a cell that was 100 degrees.

Marine Murdough's mother wasn't even notified until contacted by a news agency 1 month after death of her son.  She is suing the officials.

Rest in Peace.  His final resting place is Forest Green Park Cemetery in Morganville, New Jersey.

Another Veteran, homeless, trying to stay warm by sleeping over a grate where some heat is possible.

Vagabonds and Vagrants are other words that are used to describe homeless people.  The definition for both is a person without means of support, without a permanent address, who moves about.  Sad definitions for our Veterans, don't you think!  Why are they not properly supported?  The next time you hear someone say all homeless are lazy bums, PLEASE tell them they don't know what they're talking about.

If you missed it previously my E post found HERE,  was also a story about a homeless Veteran.

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.

Living Under the Underpasses

 A-Z Challenge = U=Underpass, Uncomfortable and Unwanted, Urban
These homeless leaving between and under underpasses and bridges may be some of the luckier ones. They have some supplies, some shelter, and a small community.  At least they did when the photo was taken.  These areas are often very temporary, until someone complains, the police forcibly move them or until they feel unsafe and move to another area.

 Some have less, not much more then the clothes on their back; but still shelter from both cold rain and snow, and summers hot sun.

 Some leave their supplies covered (click to enlarge to see the supplies up in highest part of the underpass) during the day while they forage or find space inside for a few hours of relief, coming back to the cold dark and very noisy underpass areas for the night.  Can you imagine the noise and smell of the cars going by all day and all night?

 Speaking of noise, see the young man on right covering his ears.  I don't supplies in this picture.  Perhaps they have found a spot for a temporary nap.  Sleeping is something very difficult for the homeless, as they are rousted typically multiple times a night.  It's thought to be sometimes the source of why they act irrationally, they are sleep deprived.

 Some have found what appears to be more permanent shelter and companionship under the underpasses and bridges.

Obviously some actually had structures, shelters they built under bridges and underpasses; until the city crews dismantled them.

Cities and their Police force are constantly working in tandem to move homeless, to discourage homeless from collecting.  Some say it's a health issue, trash and human waste; others say it's a crime issue, others say it's just inhuman and wrong.

Some are taking preventive measures.  Homeless certainly can't sleep or sit, or even stand where businesses have installed these and other similar "You're Unwelcome Here" measures.

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.

Tent Cities for the Homeless

A-Z Challenge = Tent Cities , Trespassing, Tiny Houses

Tent cities spring up near railroad tracks, bridges, underpasses and wooded areas.  They can be quite small with a handful of homeless, or larger inside large city limits. The above picture is a make shift tent and if you click you can see others behind in the woods.  Obviously, the police are checking something out.  In many areas they are told they can't be there, they're on someone's land, it's a health hazard.  Sometimes they're arrested and the belongings bulldozed.  Some communities leave them alone.

 Another make shift area in a wooded area.

 Not a great way to live, but some actually feel safer in these tent cities then inside at shelters because they can control the situation and who's there.  And there's never enough room for everyone at shelters so people try to live in little groups, looking out for each other, and each others stuff.

In cities, the tent cities tend to be more like this, actual tents that people have given them.  Some pile their goods up during the day and as night falls the tents pop out.  Nationally, local governments and police are cracking down on the tent cities.  Some communities are building additional shelters once they realize the numbers needing housing.

It's a catch 22, many have no where else to go, yet they don't, in most cases have the legal right to camp wherever they choose.  A difficult problem.  Some reports suggest abandoned houses ought to be utilized to house homeless, some are building little houses that are merely a place to sleep in locations where tent cities used to be.

 Certainly these look nicer then the tent cities, how they would be maintained might be a question.  But variations of these little houses are popping up in small groups around the country as a means to help.

These appear to be on wheels and are almost a dumpster type size.  I saw pictures of some that were half as tall, meant to be a place to sleep made from dumpster and storage crates.

I don't know if this is a good solution or one that will catch on and be sustainable, but it's a start and I think it's good to see something being done that's positive.


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.

Shelter Living and the Homeless

A-Z challenge = S=Shelters, slippers, socks, scarves, shawls, Star House
No one should have to live like this.

Homeless shelters are temporary residences of desperation for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community. That's the definition we find in wiki.  

Shelters vary from city to city.  Some shelters are very generic, but in recent years shelters have become, or tried to become a bit more select in whom they give shelter too.  Some shelters are adult men only, some are single women only, some are family only, and some...though not many are for teens only.  There are drop in style shelters where people can pop in for the night and must leave by a certain time in the morning, there are shelters that require certain conditions before letting you in, such as attending a prayer service.  Some provide assistance with direction to appropriate social services.  Some are community based, others tied to churches, and some are government supported.  Regardless of the population and the city, they are not enough shelters to properly serve the growing numbers of those in need.

Some Homeless take their chances on the street due to restrictions, lack of space, unsafe or unclean environments at the shelters.  And sometimes the homeless person has no physical ability to get to the shelter before it's locked down for the night and is forced to spend the night in the elements.  During the cold winter months in the colder states, there simply is not enough space for the need.

There are emergency type shelters for runaways or abused women, separate from a bed for the night; but often those in need are unaware of where these emergency shelters are, or how to get to them.  And many of the drop in facilities aren't for overnights, just perhaps a place to get warm, use the bathroom, maybe get a shower and figure out where to go next.  Drop in facilities for teens are often near college campus areas.  Star House for example here in Columbus, Ohio serves kids age 14-24, but is always over crowded.  It's located at 1621 N. High Street and has affiliation with The Ohio State University.  An old plant on the south side of the city houses young teens with children, but currently only has a 21 bed dorm.  Thus you can see the ability to care for all those in need of shelter is huge.

We hear at Bridge and Beyond, supply Homeless Families Foundation (a family shelter), Faith Mission (an adult Male and Female Shelter area), Holy Family (a soup kitchen for all),  and a handful of school in the affected areas.  Additionally we supply 2 grass roots feed the homeless groups, one of the West side of the city and one on the Northeast side of the city.  These 2 grassroots areas are people living outside in the elements.  We refer to them as The Bridge People.

Can you help?  We donate hand knit and crocheted scarves, shawls, and slippers and store bought socks.  See tabs across the top of the blog for the specifics needed to ensure the donations meet the needs of those we serve.

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 Homeless with Rain Poncho's and Recycling

Today's letter for the A-Z challenge is R=Recycle, Rain Poncho'

Recycle does play a part when thinking about Homelessness.  While we here on Bridge and Beyond don't collect and donate used clothing such as coats, sweaters etc, it is something everyone can do locally to help.  Check with your local Homeless Shelters, Churches, and Firehouses to see what items of clothing they accept.  Coats are probably the largest item needed.  Used items aren't part of our Mission here on Bridge and Beyond.  Handmade items is a large part of our mission, with the exceptions being personal care items, store bought socks, AND

Rain Poncho's.  Rain Poncho's are an easy item to donate for our non knitters and crocheters, they are light weight making postage not a big issue, and they are very much needed for the folks living out in the elements.  They are also a good item for those at the shelters who may be waiting on buses and or walking to work.

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.