Crocheting for Homeless

Thank you Emily K for this thoughtful donation of crocheted goodies.  Emily sent 2 boxes and this is her 2nd recent donation.  She's crocheted hats, scarves, and cotton washcloths, and included a toothbrush and chapstick.

Emily's hats are a variety of sizes and will keep 4 more heads warm!  A warm head can make the whole body more comfortable.  Even in warmer temperatures.  It was actually nicer out yesterday than it's been in a good long while, so I went for a walk.  I had an earache by the time I returned, as it got windy and I hadn't worn a hat, so am reminded how important warm heads are.

Thank you Emily, please keep up the good work.

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  337 -5 =332
Scarves:  163 -1 = 162
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 103
Slippers: 101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:   420 -4 = 416
Afghans:   18
Socks:  189
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 0
Misc: items like personal care, headbands etc and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these items.

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.

Personal Care Items Donated All Year Long

Look at this fabulous donation of personal care items.  Soap, shampoo, razors, hand cleaners, cream, deodorant and more!!  Many thanks Laura J for this thoughtful donation.  You can see she's also included hand warmers.  Very nice.  Laura's donation is a combination of items she's purchased and items she's collected from various hotels.  Well done.

This completes her donation....scroll back folks if you missed the first portion of her generous donation.

Again, Special thanks Laura for delivering this right to my house.  I enjoyed our visit.

Folks as you know, we collect and donate all year long, though some items are stocked piled to be ready when weather becomes an issue.  However, personal care items are actually needed and used all year long, so please as you're beginning to plan your summer vacations,please keep that in mind.  Nabbing the items from the hotels is a wonderful and easy way to donate.  AND.......do tell your friends, who may not be knitters or crocheters, this is a good way for them to get involved.

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  337
Scarves:  163
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 103
Slippers: 101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:   420
Afghans:   18
Socks:  189
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 0
Misc: items like personal care, headbands etc and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these items.

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.

Crocheted Hats and Warm Socks Reach the Homeless

 Thank you AnneMarie.  Your donation is generous and reaches many people.  You may remember folks the afghans that have been posted previously.  This is the remainder of her donation.  Socks, hand and feet warmers, and cotton washcloths.  As I sit here typing and look out at the wet, gray, sorta foggy cool day I know all of these items that were delivered a few days ago are really needed.  I'm in countdown for Spring, but realistically know we will still have several months of long cold days and nights here in Central Ohio.

Additionally, look at all the wonderful hats AnneMarie has crocheted and donated!  18 more warm heads...perfect.  She's crocheted a variety of sizes and colors to meet many needs.  Many thanks AnneMarie for your on going support.

As always, know that you are appreciated and please keep up the good work.

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  355 -18 =337
Scarves:  164 -1= 163
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 103
Slippers: 101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:  432 -12 = 420
Afghans:   18
Socks: 201 -12 = 189
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 0
Misc: items like personal care, headbands etc and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these items.

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.

Crocheted Ladies Hats Help Warm those in Need

Thank you Barbara F for this awesome donation of ladies hats!  Several different styles here folks, do click to enlarge the picture so you can see the styles.  Special thanks for tagging the hats with size, so very much appreciated by many people.

 Folks when you click to enlarge, please notice what Barbara used to tag these has.  She's simply used colored paper, cut in circles and tied the tags on with yarn.  I wanted to point this out, as some folks have asked how.  Some purchase the little white tags that have string, that works great too.  Some have used index cards cut in shapes.  The tags don't need to be fancy but, I would like to ask that you not use paper clips, tape, straight pins, or safety pins.  All those have to be removed for safety and can cause problems with the fraying the yarn.  Taping a note doesn't present a safety problem, but it also doesn't work, as it doesn't stay attached.

As always Barbara, many thanks and keep up the good work!

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  368 -13 =355
Scarves:  164
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 103
Slippers: 101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:  432
Afghans:   18
Socks: 201
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 0
Misc: items like personal care, headbands etc and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these items.

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.

Crocheted Donations Help Ohio's Homeless

Thank you Emily K for this thoughtful donation of crocheted goodies.  Emily's crocheted mittens, headbands, hats, cotton washcloths and a scarf...a little something for everyone.  Sorry the pictures a bit dark folks.  I'm still adjusting a bit to the different software on my new computer.

Mittens....can you see me dancing in the streets?  Bet you can, that is if you've been to Bridge and Beyond Blog before, you know how excited I get when we receive donations of mittens.  Well done and keep up the good work Emily.

***AND stay tuned, no sooner did I photograph this donation, then a 2nd box of goodies came from Emily!

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  370 -2 =368
Scarves: 165 -1 = 164
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 105 -2 = 103
Slippers: 101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:  434 -2 = 432
Afghans:   18
Socks: 201
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 0
Misc: items like personal care, headbands etc and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these items.

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.

Let's Take Another Look at Lacy Stitches

 Across the top of the blog are tabs for each item we knit, crochet, loom and donate.  In each of those tabs is important information about color, size, fibers, stitches that are appropriate for our cause, as well as what to avoid.  It's important our donations meet the needs of those we serve.  While this scarf is quite pretty, it is really too open......Solid stitches are far warmer, and they hold up better in the long haul.  Remember whom we serve.  The scarf you and I might wear to and from work or the grocery store can keep us adequately warm........even with a pretty open lacy pattern.........however,

for a person who maybe living under the bridge, or slogging through the day outside waiting til it's time to get into a shelter for a night, this really doesn't work as well.  Additionally, remember the folks we serve don't have ready access to laundry and keeping a scarf with a lacy open pattern nice requires some extra care, that isn't something they have the ability to do.

So, this is another reminder to PLEASE read the tabs and follow the guidelines to be sure your thoughtful donations meet the needs of those we serve, even though making it might not be your first choice of designs with regard to stitches and or color or fiber.

 If you like using  the V-stitch for example in your crocheting, take a look at it.  Generally it's far too open.  However, I've used a modified v-stitch (don't put the space between it), use a smaller hook and you'll get a nice variation of DC, but it won't be as open or lacy as a V-stitch is intended to be.

If you have questions, not addressed in the tabs across the top of the blog, please ask.

I'm listing our end numbers from 2015 and will subtract our current number as means of keeping our goal in front of us.  I'll show the goal number in Red.  Let's strive not just to match last years numbers, but.........work towards even more.

2016 DONATIONS:
Hats:  370
Scarves: 165
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 105
Slippers: 101
Rain Poncho's:  105
Cotton Washcloths:  434
Afghans:   18
Socks: 201
Cowls/Hoody Combo's, headbands:  9
Shawls and shrugs, ponchos, sweaters & vests etc 0
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Please note the category of shawl, shrugs, ponchos etc has reached our little goal, same as last year of 1.........but please please please.........don't let that stop you from making more of these items.

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.