Did you know the average age of a homeless person Nationally is a 9 year old child? Think of the 9 year children you know, those who live next door, those in your classroom if you teach school, those nieces, nephews, grandchildren and children not only in your family; but in the families of people you know. I'm betting the news that the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old makes you sad, makes you shudder, makes you sigh with a heavy heart. Don't despair and throw up your hands, join me and others here on Bridge and Beyond and help us build a bridge from Homelessness to Hope. That's being done everyday through The Homeless Families Foundation. The Foundation provides shelter, guidance, and after school programming to keep children and their families safe until such time they can move into permanent housing.
There are many stories of how families become homeless and their struggles. A sad statistic is the children. Children typically fall 2 years behind their counterparts in school. When you don't know if you'll have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, or a meal it's awfully hard to focus on learning. The Foundation provides the safety net of a place to live (temporary housing for up to 3 months), they also provide day to day essentials. While counselors work with the adults to provide them with the tools they need to successfully care for their families (jobs and housing), they work with the children; planting the seeds of hope. After school programs, and summer programs provide safe, educational and enrichment programs to help the children reach their potential. Hot meals are provided, along with homework assistance through the Dowd Center.
This year The Homeless Families Foundation celebrates it's 25th anniversary, helping families since 1986.
As you know we knit, we crochet, and we loom all year long. Throughout the summer months I'm able to stock pile your wonderful and thoughtful donations to be ready when summer ends to care for those in need. We've supplied hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, socks, and personal care items to men and women living outdoors in the elements (Bridge folks), Faith Mission both the day to day portion for men, Nancy Place for Women, 2 Free Clinics who care for Mothers and Children in need, Holy Family (feeds hundreds of homeless and others in need daily), and now The Homeless Families Foundation.
The work you do does make a difference, each and everyday.
**September is Scarf Month, and we're having another contest.
From now until October 8, I'll toss names into a hat for everyone who donates a scarf for a teen or adult...male or female. Feeling like we need to bump those numbers a bit and will draw the winning name from the hat and send out another box of yarn. Contests are fun. We've had several fun, productive, and successful contests. Every scarf donated for a teen or adult (at least 5 inches wide and 5 feet or longer please), will qualify. **
2011 Donations:
Scarves 285
Hats 581
Mitts 133
Socks 115
Squares 454
Rain Ponchos 80
Cotton Washcloths 305
Sweaters/Poncho's 6
Slippers 86
Afghans 33 (2 sent to our friends at Pine Street)
My challenge for you all (besides continuing to knit and crochet and loom), is to tell at least 1 person today about homelessness. Tell one person today about the problem and the need for their help.
THANK YOU for all you do, keep up the good work!
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!
Showing posts sorted by date for query holy family. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query holy family. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
People Pulling Together Truly Can Accomplish GREAT Things!
We've hit the end of another month here on at Bridge and Beyond. I thought it appropriate to show you all what you've accomplished. Hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen. Anyone and Everyone who things they can't help, who thinks doing something of value is up to someone else needs to see this. PLEASE encourage others to read this.
Today is April 30th, the last day of our April Showers Project. Tomorrow is May 1, the beginning of our Comment Contest.
This blog started on December 1st, 2008 and over time what we've collected has changed a bit which plays into the numbers. Have a look.
HATS, 368 +592+274=1,234 crocheted, knitted, and loomed hats have been donated by big hearted people like yourselves. These hats have been lots of different colors, lots of different sizes, and lots of different designs. Each of these hats has been given to someone in need. Some to men and women living outside in the cold elements of Central Ohio; truly homeless people who otherwise might not have stayed alive through the long bitter months. Some have been given to mothers and children being treated at 2 free clinics. These folks may have a roof over their heads; but many don't have heat and are barely a step above being homeless. Some have been given to mothers and children living in temporary housing who were abused and or homeless. Some to families obtaining a hot meal from Holy Family as they wait in line out in the cold. Some have been given to school children who come to school despite not being properly clothed against the elements. 1,234 hats made by your loving hands from Dec 1st, 2008 til today, April 30th, 2011.
SCARVES, 147, 340, 171=658. These scarves like the above hats have been knitted and crocheted and distributed to the same groups so desperately in need. Scarves can be wrapped around necks, across faces and mouths, put on top of hats for added protection. Scarves can help supplement a light weight jacket.
MITTENS, 66+151 +66=283 pairs of warmer hands.
SOCKS, 79+101+ 74= 254. Socks serve many purposes. Sometimes people need to change to a clean dry pair because their feet are wet and cold. Sometimes they need to add a 2nd pair to try to get a little additional warmth. Socks are needed 12 months a year, even during the warmer months for those folks who are homeless.
SLIPPERS: 34+37=71. Slippers like socks can help warm cold feet and are so very much appreciated by men spending a night in the shelter when perhaps their socks can be laid out to dry. They're needed by women and children living in temporary housing and provide comfort for all with little heat in the homes.
Afghans (ghans) 10+29=39. Afghans made from squares you've donated, as well as full afghans have been provided to Faith Mission for Mothers and Children who often have very little. Afghans can be used for comfort, and hope as well as needed warmth in temporary housing whether used on beds at night or to ward off drafts when thermostats are so low they're not keeping warm. Afghans have also been donated to Pine Street Inn, another group that serves to protect the homeless and abused so desperately in need.
SQUARES, 238+214=452 knitted and crocheted squares have been donated in order to make afghans for the those folks listed above.
PONCHOS 43. Ponchos don't replace a roof over someone's head, but they do help protect one against the cold wet rain. If people are able to stay dry, they will be more comfortable, more warm; and that's very important in trying to stay well.
You may be ONE person, but you can and do make a difference, the proof surely is listed above.
And since we're celebrating because of a number, the milestone of reaching 400 posts (this is now post #405), I'll through out some other numbers you might find fun to know. We have 45 people who've donated, and or helped who blog, or have a membership on Ravelry or Crochetville, or The Hive. Additionally we have 91 people who've donated who've found us on the net who're are not part of those above groups. Thus far we have identified that donations have come from 29 states which is 58% of the country...see map at the bottom of the blog.
This blog's received several awards which make me happy, hope you all realize you're a part of these. The top 100 crochet and knitting blogs, Humanitarian Award, Honest Scrap and Humane Award. You can click on any of these in the side bars.
Since we've started highlighting a specific item each month we've had The Rainbow Project, Give a Square, Toasty Tootsies, Sock it to Me, and April Showers. Stay tuned as I'll be announcing the May highlighted item next.
If you notice the tabs across the top of the blog you can click to get lots of questions answers with The Things you should know before you donate section, a flyer you can print to distribute, and patterns you can use.
AND starting tomorrow you can start commenting away to win a fun $40.00 shopping spree at JoAnn's thanks to a special secret donator. Click HERE for all the details.
Yes, people pulling together can truly accomplish great things. Thank you!
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!
Today is April 30th, the last day of our April Showers Project. Tomorrow is May 1, the beginning of our Comment Contest.
This blog started on December 1st, 2008 and over time what we've collected has changed a bit which plays into the numbers. Have a look.
HATS, 368 +592+274=1,234 crocheted, knitted, and loomed hats have been donated by big hearted people like yourselves. These hats have been lots of different colors, lots of different sizes, and lots of different designs. Each of these hats has been given to someone in need. Some to men and women living outside in the cold elements of Central Ohio; truly homeless people who otherwise might not have stayed alive through the long bitter months. Some have been given to mothers and children being treated at 2 free clinics. These folks may have a roof over their heads; but many don't have heat and are barely a step above being homeless. Some have been given to mothers and children living in temporary housing who were abused and or homeless. Some to families obtaining a hot meal from Holy Family as they wait in line out in the cold. Some have been given to school children who come to school despite not being properly clothed against the elements. 1,234 hats made by your loving hands from Dec 1st, 2008 til today, April 30th, 2011.
SCARVES, 147, 340, 171=658. These scarves like the above hats have been knitted and crocheted and distributed to the same groups so desperately in need. Scarves can be wrapped around necks, across faces and mouths, put on top of hats for added protection. Scarves can help supplement a light weight jacket.
MITTENS, 66+151 +66=283 pairs of warmer hands.
SOCKS, 79+101+ 74= 254. Socks serve many purposes. Sometimes people need to change to a clean dry pair because their feet are wet and cold. Sometimes they need to add a 2nd pair to try to get a little additional warmth. Socks are needed 12 months a year, even during the warmer months for those folks who are homeless.
SLIPPERS: 34+37=71. Slippers like socks can help warm cold feet and are so very much appreciated by men spending a night in the shelter when perhaps their socks can be laid out to dry. They're needed by women and children living in temporary housing and provide comfort for all with little heat in the homes.
Afghans (ghans) 10+29=39. Afghans made from squares you've donated, as well as full afghans have been provided to Faith Mission for Mothers and Children who often have very little. Afghans can be used for comfort, and hope as well as needed warmth in temporary housing whether used on beds at night or to ward off drafts when thermostats are so low they're not keeping warm. Afghans have also been donated to Pine Street Inn, another group that serves to protect the homeless and abused so desperately in need.
SQUARES, 238+214=452 knitted and crocheted squares have been donated in order to make afghans for the those folks listed above.
PONCHOS 43. Ponchos don't replace a roof over someone's head, but they do help protect one against the cold wet rain. If people are able to stay dry, they will be more comfortable, more warm; and that's very important in trying to stay well.
You may be ONE person, but you can and do make a difference, the proof surely is listed above.
And since we're celebrating because of a number, the milestone of reaching 400 posts (this is now post #405), I'll through out some other numbers you might find fun to know. We have 45 people who've donated, and or helped who blog, or have a membership on Ravelry or Crochetville, or The Hive. Additionally we have 91 people who've donated who've found us on the net who're are not part of those above groups. Thus far we have identified that donations have come from 29 states which is 58% of the country...see map at the bottom of the blog.
This blog's received several awards which make me happy, hope you all realize you're a part of these. The top 100 crochet and knitting blogs, Humanitarian Award, Honest Scrap and Humane Award. You can click on any of these in the side bars.
Since we've started highlighting a specific item each month we've had The Rainbow Project, Give a Square, Toasty Tootsies, Sock it to Me, and April Showers. Stay tuned as I'll be announcing the May highlighted item next.
If you notice the tabs across the top of the blog you can click to get lots of questions answers with The Things you should know before you donate section, a flyer you can print to distribute, and patterns you can use.
AND starting tomorrow you can start commenting away to win a fun $40.00 shopping spree at JoAnn's thanks to a special secret donator. Click HERE for all the details.
Yes, people pulling together can truly accomplish great things. Thank you!
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Helping Hands
Helping hands are always appreciated. If you've been a reader here on the blog previously, you no doubt are aware we have helping hands behind the scenes. Helping hands that don't necessarily knit and crochet. I thought I tell you a bit about them, as we have many new readers here that may not yet be aware. We have our good friend Rae. Rae with a couple of ladies from church prepare hot meals on Saturday mornings to distribute to those living under the bridges, living outdoors-homeless here in Ohio. Rae delivers our hand knit, crocheted, and loomed hats, scarves, and mittens (and store bought socks) at the same time she distributes her hot meals to those in need. Additionally, she works in 2 free clinics and hand delivers are hand made items there to mothers and children.
My brother Chuck, and SIL Jan often provide a storage place for me and our knitted and crocheted items of warmth. I delivery bags of wonderful goodies from you to them, who deliver them to Rae; as they belong to the same church. This saves me time and space and is greatly appreciated. The less time I spend running items around, the more time I have to talk with you here about them, to knit and crochet myself, and to promote the need.
A while back I met a woman named Lynn at a Sausage Party. She also feeds the homeless and those in need through Holy Family. She picks up donations from me and delivers them on her weekly volunteer days to Holy Family. Again giving a hot meal and hand knit or crocheted hats, scarves, mittens, slippers to those without. Those in need of warmth both physically and emotionally. I appreciate her time and effort helping us reach those in need, while saving me much needed time.
I'm able to make deliverys to Faith Mission on a more regular basis with the help they provide above. Faith Mission provides temporary housing for Mothers and Children who've been abused and or homeless as they work to get them into permanent housing and become more stable; as well as night by night shelter for men in a separate location. I make deliveries with your thoughtful donations to both of these facilities. The squares provided by you, through Give a Square; assembled into afghans go to Nancy's Place at Faith Mission for those Mother's and their children. While Give a Square is currently dormant, I am continuing to make and deliver afghans in addition to hats, mittens, scarves, and slippers.
Thank you to all our helping hands, those with and without yarn in them.
**April's focus will be unveiled tomorrow, please check in.**
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!
My brother Chuck, and SIL Jan often provide a storage place for me and our knitted and crocheted items of warmth. I delivery bags of wonderful goodies from you to them, who deliver them to Rae; as they belong to the same church. This saves me time and space and is greatly appreciated. The less time I spend running items around, the more time I have to talk with you here about them, to knit and crochet myself, and to promote the need.
A while back I met a woman named Lynn at a Sausage Party. She also feeds the homeless and those in need through Holy Family. She picks up donations from me and delivers them on her weekly volunteer days to Holy Family. Again giving a hot meal and hand knit or crocheted hats, scarves, mittens, slippers to those without. Those in need of warmth both physically and emotionally. I appreciate her time and effort helping us reach those in need, while saving me much needed time.
I'm able to make deliverys to Faith Mission on a more regular basis with the help they provide above. Faith Mission provides temporary housing for Mothers and Children who've been abused and or homeless as they work to get them into permanent housing and become more stable; as well as night by night shelter for men in a separate location. I make deliveries with your thoughtful donations to both of these facilities. The squares provided by you, through Give a Square; assembled into afghans go to Nancy's Place at Faith Mission for those Mother's and their children. While Give a Square is currently dormant, I am continuing to make and deliver afghans in addition to hats, mittens, scarves, and slippers.
Thank you to all our helping hands, those with and without yarn in them.
**April's focus will be unveiled tomorrow, please check in.**
All donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. YOU truly DO make a difference. THANK YOU!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
So Many Opportunities
Several weeks ago I attended a Sausage Party. This is an annual event that takes place in my neighborhood, just down the street. The gentlemen who's been hosting this event has done so for 18 years. His purpose is to make sausage, to continue a tradition from a Hungarian Gentlemen who taught him the craft. His purpose was to make sure his kids knew, and now his grandchildren know that preparing food is hard work, and fun, takes skill and dedication and to appreciate what people before us did. Remember, buying food packaged from the grocery store is all most younger than us know about.
However, he has yet another purpose. He gathers friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers for this ever growing event. Typically there are several hundred in attendance. Men cut and begin prepping the meat on Thursday. Friday people begin making their way in from out of town. And soon it's a party with a purpose. Several tables of meat cutting continue in the garage where the meat grinder is set up. Jack, our host always dumps in the secret ingredients. The sausage is packed in the kitchen with several stuffers going hour after hour. Everyone gets in the act, from the wee little ones, to the grandparents. Food and drink abound and a ceramic pig for donations is available in the kitchen, and the garage. All the monies donated go to Holy Family, a local church/soup kitchen that feeds on average 700 homeless a day. Holy Family has been in existence since 1970. In addition to the hot meals prepared daily for the homeless a food bank helps families in need.
People can collect a sampling of each of the 6 or 7 types of sausages made in any given year from Italian to Hungarian, to Andouille, Chorizo, and others (after it's been smoked in the smoke house in Jack's backyard). In addition to the monies collected (this year a bit over $400.00), sausage is also donated to Holy Family.
So here I am at the party, chatting with people I've met in other years, and meeting new folks; when I asked whether clothing was provided, or needed to those that are fed at Holy Family. I was speaking to a lady who volunteers in the soup kitchen several times a week. She was thrilled that someone asked, and talked about how cold some of these folks were. I had 50 hats bagged. Told her I had 50 hats geared towards school age and teenage kids. She was beyond thrilled. So, folks we reached out again....the beyond part of our mission. Now as Holy Family feeds those that come in off the street, and or from the various homeless shelters; they'll be able to give cold children and teens a hat to help warm them up. The lady I met is Lynn.
Thank you all for providing enough caring with your donations, that we're able to continue to help so many in need. It was a good night, and I was happy we were able to respond to the opportunity to help.
I should also add how good our neighborhood smells while all this sausage is being smoked. That process takes about a week or two.
2010
Scarves 306
Hats 574
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 7
Squares 133
Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!
However, he has yet another purpose. He gathers friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers for this ever growing event. Typically there are several hundred in attendance. Men cut and begin prepping the meat on Thursday. Friday people begin making their way in from out of town. And soon it's a party with a purpose. Several tables of meat cutting continue in the garage where the meat grinder is set up. Jack, our host always dumps in the secret ingredients. The sausage is packed in the kitchen with several stuffers going hour after hour. Everyone gets in the act, from the wee little ones, to the grandparents. Food and drink abound and a ceramic pig for donations is available in the kitchen, and the garage. All the monies donated go to Holy Family, a local church/soup kitchen that feeds on average 700 homeless a day. Holy Family has been in existence since 1970. In addition to the hot meals prepared daily for the homeless a food bank helps families in need.
People can collect a sampling of each of the 6 or 7 types of sausages made in any given year from Italian to Hungarian, to Andouille, Chorizo, and others (after it's been smoked in the smoke house in Jack's backyard). In addition to the monies collected (this year a bit over $400.00), sausage is also donated to Holy Family.
So here I am at the party, chatting with people I've met in other years, and meeting new folks; when I asked whether clothing was provided, or needed to those that are fed at Holy Family. I was speaking to a lady who volunteers in the soup kitchen several times a week. She was thrilled that someone asked, and talked about how cold some of these folks were. I had 50 hats bagged. Told her I had 50 hats geared towards school age and teenage kids. She was beyond thrilled. So, folks we reached out again....the beyond part of our mission. Now as Holy Family feeds those that come in off the street, and or from the various homeless shelters; they'll be able to give cold children and teens a hat to help warm them up. The lady I met is Lynn.
Thank you all for providing enough caring with your donations, that we're able to continue to help so many in need. It was a good night, and I was happy we were able to respond to the opportunity to help.
I should also add how good our neighborhood smells while all this sausage is being smoked. That process takes about a week or two.
2010
Scarves 306
Hats 574
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 7
Squares 133
Please remember all donations regardless of size and number are valued. All donations are appreciated, and all donations keep someone warm. We help, one stitch at a time. It truly DOES make a difference. THANK YOU!
Monday, October 26, 2009
What can I Do? I'm just one person!!!
There are many things wrong, or sad in the world. Do you find you often ask yourself, but what can I do? I'm just one person? Do you often think, someone should do something. "They", they should do something. Whoever "They" is.
One person can do something. One person can make a difference. It happens everyday, in my city and in yours. It happens when you're not looking. Maybe no camera is there to record it, no news media spreading the news; but it does indeed happen.
Each of you who've knitted or crocheted a hat, a pair of mittens, a pair of slippers, or a scarf have done something. You've done something wonderful. You've helped! AND together lots of us in one's and two's can make a big difference.
The Hats, Mittens, Scarves, Slippers etc. hand knit or crocheted are distributed along with a hot meal to those men and women living outdoors in the elements. These are a few pictures recently taken. Sorry they are very small and hard to see; but I believe still show you the conditions some are forced to live with. PLEASE, think about how you can help.
Can you can knit, or crochet and make something to donate?
Can you can blog about this to spread the word?
Can you can place our badge on your blog or website to spread the news?
Can you can tell your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your co-workers about it? Does someone in your circle knit, crochet, have yarn they no longer use, blog, have a websiteCan you donate socks? Which are always a needed item...nothing worse than cold wet feet.
Can you can collect little soaps, lotions, shampoo etc? Start saving all those samples at hotels when you travel (either for business or pleasure). We donate personal care items too.
Can you put out a box to collect things at work?
Can you place a notice in your school's newsletter, your church's bulletin?
Do you have an old, no longer being used backpack you could fill with warm clothing, or instant food?
Can you print and distribute our flyer at your PTO/PTA, play group, church group, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, work bulletin board etc.?
I know everyone can answer yes to at least one of those things listed above. So, PLEASE can we count on your help; more importantly can they count on your help?
The above pictures were taken awhile ago, see a handful of people in the church kitchen preparing meals, only a few...can and do make a difference. A close up of chicken and noodles, and smiles on faces who've been warmed by clothes, food, and the caring hearts of others.
Our donations have helped the following:
Men and Women living under bridges
Mothers and Children being treated in 2 free clinics
Women in temporary housing at Faith Mission (some were homeless, some were abused)
Men given a couple of nights in homeless shelters through Faith Mission
Families in need of a hot meal through Holy Family
Cold school children in need (some who make it to school from homeless shelters) at Stiles Elementary and Darby Dale Elementary Schools
Homeless CHILDREN with their families living in temporary housing through The Homeless Families Foundation
Cold children in need, many of whom are homeless at West Broad Street Elementary School and Highland Elementary Schools.
Homeless Children with their families living in temporary housing through The YWCA
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