Charity in Oklahoma Needs Knitters and Crocheters

Streetknits2013

Streetknits2013 is a charity formed to benefit Homeless People, as well educate the communality about homelessness.  Silke Feltz formed the group in 2013 and is currently operating in Norman, Oklahoma.  She has an outreach program to teach knitting and teach about homelessness, as well as collect and donate handmade Blankets (Afghans, lapghans), Hats, Gloves and Mittens, Scarves, and Socks (hand knit, not store bought).

The link above takes you to her Facebook Community Page where she documents pictures of the various donations, as well as groups knitting on campus.  Since she also teaches knitting, she accepts donations of yarn and needles as well; and has set up means for monetary donations.  The link to her webpage is HERE.

The items are donated to "Food and Shelter".  This shelter serves men, women, and families.  They are located at 201 Reed Avenue, Norman, OK  73071

Donations mailed to Silke Feltz should include a note with your name and email address, just as you did for me.  Any additional questions regarding her charity should be directed to: streetknits2013@gmail.com.  When you're ready to mail a donation contact her for her mailing address.

PLEASE when communicating with her, or when sending donations include a note indicating you're a former member of Bridge and Beyond and heard of her through me, Sandy Holladay.

Google tells me average temps in Norman, OK this time of the year are 40-63.

Dec  is 30-51

Jan   is 28-51

Feb   is 32-51

So, you can see the need for warm items to aid the homeless is real.

Yesterday I posted stats for 12 years of our existence here on Bridge and Beyond (not counting the current year), and addresses and information regarding two of the shelters we supplied here locally, Homeless Families Foundation, and Faith Mission.  If you're local you can drop off at either of those shelters.  Please scroll back to read the information.  AND please continue to return and read daily as I will continue to post current donations and stats, as well as provide more information about other charities you may wish to support when Bridge and Beyond stops operations on Dec 31, 2021.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Bridge and Beyond Donations Totals for 12 Years!

I' ve compiled the numbers for 12 years of donations.  Starting with the one month in 2008 through the end of last year, 2020.  

You can see totals for each item for each year and then a subtotal excluding what we've done so far this year.  Notice the yellow blocks, those are the best years for each item.

Thought you'd like to see this all laid out.  This will of course be updated to include our final numbers for this last year, 2021 and then grand totals.

Things not listed with stats are personal care items, poncho's and other misc. items.

This has been a labor of love for me, and I hope you all feel the same.  I'm happy with how much we've accomplished and that we kept Bridge and Beyond going for what will be 13 years when we close up shop next month, Dec 31st 2021.

For those local you can delivery your donations to Homeless Families Foundations at 33 North Grubb Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215.  I would suggest calling ahead 614-461-9247, as their hours may continue to change with regard to Covid.  Currently on their webpage they indicate drop offs can happen on Monday from 10 am to 1 pm.  This is what I've stuck with throughout this pandemic.

Additionally, donations can be delivered to Faith Mission, there mailing address is 245 N. Grant Avenue, Columbus, Ohio  43215, 614-224-6617.  However, deliveries should be made at the back loading dock 217 N. Grant.  Again, I would suggest calling before you plan to make a delivery. 

These are two shelters we've supplied throughout our 13 years.

I am checking into charities for Homeless that accept knitted and crocheted donations.  Currently have communication pending with one in Oklahoma and one in Michigan.

If you want to keep your donations local, please call your nearest shelter or church in your area.  A general google search appears to show listings of shelters in each state.

Please continue to check in, as I will continue to show what donations we're still getting; as well as supply you with possible charities you might like to become involved.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Flowers to Say Thank You, and Slippers Make Warm Feet

Sharing some flowers with you all for all your hard work with knitting, crocheting, looming and donating throughout the 13 years Bridge and Beyond has been in existence.  This pink Lilly was my favorite.  It always had a wonderful aroma.  But, the squirrels and or chipmunks apparently really like it too, and kept digging it up.  I replanted it too many times to count and each subsequent year the flower got lighter in color and lost it's aroma.  I finally gave up and stopped replanting it, so this picture is from about 10 years ago.

These day lillies were starts from my parents yard that I enjoyed for a good many years and then they got so tall and hung over you couldn't walk on the walk, so I took them out and replanted the area.

This is one of the replants, but it didn't make it to year two.

But these Asters did, along with lots of Phlox.

As the weather is turning cold, leaves are falling; there really are no more flowers in the yards to enjoy, so hopefully these pictures made you smile.

2010 was the first year we started collecting and donating slippers.

2010   34

2011   128

2012   153

2013   150

2014   121

2015   105

2016   91

2017   53

2018   13

2019   27

2020   4

2021   52....as of Nov 11th

Total 931 pairs of warm, dry feet...........wonderful work folks, truly.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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 Aids Homeless Here at Bridge and Beyond

Thank you Pat C for this awesome donation of knitted goodies!  Pat has been very busy indeed.  Look at the nice collection of corner to corner knitted cotton washcloths...in the always famous Grandma's favorite pattern.  Lots of different colors.  

And hats, mittens and a scarf.  Please click to enlarge the picture so you can see the details.  The hats are a variety of sizes and colors, and styles.  Something for everyone.  

But.............. scroll down please

More hats and mittens.  Again a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes.  All the hats and mittens are nicely tagged with size.  Special thank you.  The hats that look long and skinny are super stretchy and so will fit a variety of head sizes.  Be sure and notice the gray in top right corner with a beautiful cable.  So well done.

Drum roll, this donation puts us over 100% of our goal for hats!!  Woot Woot!!  That's exciting, and look how we're doing on the mitten goal...this donation puts us slightly over 92%.  You know how excited I get when we get mittens.  

Folks I've been posting information about Bridge and Beyond since Nov 1st when the announcement was made about operations ceasing for Bridge and Beyond come Dec 31st of the year.  If you've missed reading those post, please scroll back to Nov 1 nd come forward.

We started small and grew.  And with our growth we were able to help more people in more shelters.  Over our 13 years we've accomplished quite a bit for a true grass roots charity with everyone pulling together.  Many thanks to you all.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Cro-Knit Scarves Warm Homeless

Thank you Karen S for this thoughtful donation knitted scarves and a loomed hat.  The sun was truly streaking through the day I opened and photographed this donation....that doesn't happen to often this time of year here in central Ohio.  So I welcome the sun screaking, though it makes it a bit difficult for you to see Karen's donation really well.  The colors on top left are tan and green, middle one is light blue and brown.  The third one is the easiest to see pink and maroon.  

As you all probably know by now, Karen uses the croknit technique, so her donations are easy to identify. I call it the Karen special, lol.

With this donation, we're a bit over 96% of our goal for hats!  How cool is that folks!!

I've been posting snip-its of stats and history of Bridge and Beyond since making the announcement on Nov 1st, that Bridge and Beyond would stop operations on Dec 31st of this year, 2021.  If you've not read the announcement or any of the following post in subsequent days, please do click or scroll back and read.

AND, please continue to pop in daily for updates with our current numbers, as well as history about our 13 years of operation.  As of the writing of this blog post we have 2,189 blog posts.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.

Sunset of Bridge and Beyond, Afghan Totals

A picture I took quite a few years ago on a vacation with hubby in southern California.  Thought I'd share this sunset with you all, as we've been discussing the end (the sunset if you will) of Bridge and Beyond as of Dec 31st of this year.  If you've not been here recently, you may not have read the notice on November 1st.  I've been posting about it, as I continue to post our current donations.

I've been sharing stats and history of Bridge and Beyond since it's beginnings (sunrise...but no, I don't have pictures of sunrise, as I'm not an early riser), in Dec of 2008.

Scarves click HERE

Socks click HERE

Mittens totals click HERE

Hats click HERE

As the word is getting out about the closure of Bridge and Beyond, several of you have contacted me to express your wish to continue to donate to someone/somewhere.  I am working on some alternatives and will be posting more about that as time goes on.  

Anyone local can take their donations directly to Homeless Families Foundation at 33 North Grubb Street (just off West Broad Street), Columbus, Ohio  43215

614-461-9247.  Here's the link to the webpage.  There are many ways to help beyond donating knitted or crocheted items.  There are volunteer opportunities, and the ability to donate $$.  The contact person is Chad Gardner 614-715-8551 or email him at cgardner@homelessfamiliesfoundation.org.  Currently donations can be delivered on Monday's from 10 am - 1 pm.

For those not local, please stay tuned; as I will be posting additional information.

I thought I would take this opportunity to share our stats for the knitted and crocheted afghans we donated through the years:

2011   55

2012   55

2013   55

2014   32

2015   24

2016   36

2017   32

2018   34

2019   14

2020   40

2021   19...to date as of Nov 5, 2021

**Total donated 396 afghans!

You may have noticed that we don't have numbers for donated afghans before 2011, this reflects some of our growth through the years.  It was at that time we grew enough to extend what we made and donated for a program I called Welcome Home.  Our afghans were given to folks who transitioned from shelters to a home situation.  They received a package of items to help them get started and our afghans were part of that with a congratulations letter that included information regarding the nature of family heirlooms and how to care/launder the afghans.

**The counts on our progress bars are current. 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.