A-Z Reflections Post.

I've recently changed the badge in the right sidebar from Challenge to Survivor!  Meaning I made it.  Not everyone does so they make us a new badge.  Bridge and Beyond was #856, meaning I was the 856th blog to sign up for the challenge.  When the challenge finished there were 1516 on the linky list, but Bridge and Beyond was then #681.  That indicates how many blogs left the challenge or were deleted when it was noticed there were non compliant.  There are others in the 1516 that didn't finish, but there's no way to really know that number.

As part of the tradition we're asked to write a reflection post and again sign up on a linky.  The day to post to the linky starts today and runs through the 8th.

Each year I've done this I've pretty much said the same thing, because my experience has pretty much been the same thing.  Part of the reason to write the reflection is to tweak the way the challenge operates, though in all honesty, I can't see that's there's been any changes in it since I first started doing this 4 or 5 years ago.  Though I know many people do write good suggestions in their reflection post.  Most suggest eliminating frustration.

I'm also always disappointed in the people who really don't participate, in that they list their blog for links, but don't really visit other blogs.  Disappointed in that far too many bloggers don't reciprocate the visits and comments.  I always make tons more then I receive back; but........this might be the first year I actually thought  participating  was beneficial.  I really hadn't plan to do it again because of previous years negative feelings.  But, this blog is not one I'd used before, in fact didn't think I could make it work.

I was a bit down, because donations, visits, and comments had all fallen off and I'd pretty much run out of ideas of ways to promote the blog and it's mission, Helping the Homeless; and thought I'd give it one last try.  I'm glad I did.  I wanted to help spread the word about the need, wanted to help educate people how sad the plight of a homeless person truly is.  I believe I did that, based on the comments I received.  I know several bloggers said they were getting out knitting needles and crochet hooks to see what they could do.  Most indicated they were going to see what they might do locally, as oppose to helping Bridge and Beyond per sey, but..........there are many people in need.  The fact that they now want to help, that they know more now then they did before April is in fact a success in my book.  I gained a few additional followers.  Believe Bridge and Beyond had 294 followers when the challenge began and it now has 317.  Not a huge growth, I know some blogs gained hundreds; but every additional follower is a potential pair of helping hands, each person who visited and comment the same, and so...I call it worthwhile.  Yes, again this year I spent lots of time writing the posts, visiting other blogs far more then were reciprocated; but.......my primary goal, I believe was attained.

I'll mention changes I've mentioned before, things I think would vastly improve frustration with the challenge.  I think once someone signs up, the blog needs to be checked vs waiting until the challenge begins.  Elementing link seekers from the get go would improve everyone's experience.  If they don't post the badge with the link after signing on, they're probably not going to.  If their blog is one that you must join something to leave a comment, they probably aren't going to participate, if they have comments closed...we know they have no attention of participating.  If blog comments can only be made through google+ it waste enormous amounts of time for those who visit them.  I also think the badge needs to be above the fold, not clear at the bottom of a very very long blog.  Much like the scenario of writing our reflection post BEFORE we link, I think the badge should appear and the other requirements fulfilled right after signing up, if not before.  Checking as people sign up, would surely be much easier then trying to check after the fact.  I also think it should be mandatory that people actually use the link to their blog not their profile pages both in the linky and when they make blog visits.

Here's my ABC listing of Challenge Posts.  The top comments were for The C, F, and L posts, with 30-28-and 27 comments including my responses to peoples comments.  A couple I considered to be some of the more important posts would be B, F, O, P, and T

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
W=Water in Doorways, Sprays Homeless
X=Xenophobia
Y=Yarn Helps Homeless
Z=Finding Zen

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.

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.

Exposure Kills Homeless Veterans

A-Z Day 6 E=Exposure

This incredible picture truly looks like somewhere over the rainbow.  This was taken by Steve Edquist at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota.  A final resting place of honor for our Military. (Thank you Steve for the use of your photo).

Meet Jerome William Jackson, better known as Jerry.  He was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corp from 1975-1978.  This picture is the face of a homeless man, taken in 2005 at The Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul where Jerry lived for awhile off and on after being evicted from public housing.  Sadly, this Marine died of exposure on Feb 21st.  His body was found in a homemade shack in below freezing temperatures in Indian Mounds Park.  This Marine who served his country had schizophrenia, making life difficult for him and sometimes those around him; though he was well liked by those who knew him at Our Saviours' Lutheran Church.

No one should die of the elements, of exposure in this country; and most certainly not a Veteran.  But, it happens.  According to an article by Piper Hoffman of Care2, about 700 Homeless People die every year from exposure.  What a sad statistic that is.

This is a sad story, one of many and one of the reasons we do what we can here on Bridge and Beyond.  Warm hats, scarves, and mittens can save a life.  And so we knit and we crochet and we donate.  This isn't the first post I've written about the death of a homeless person.  Very recently I posted about Michael B. Williams, Jr.

However, this is also a rather heart warming story, as the community came together and took care of arrangements to honor this man, Lance Corporal Jackson.  He was buried at Ft. Snelling with military honors, a 21 gun salute and bag pipes.  Mueller Memorial provided their service for free, and arrangement were made to locate his brother, Don and bring him in for the service.  He was honored to receive the folded flag from his brothers casket.  The brothers hadn't seen each other in several years.   Communications were strained and difficult with the disease and the homelessness.  RIP Jerry.

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.

The Faces of Homeless

There are many faces of homelessness. Some are women, some are men, some are children, and some are Veterans. They're in my city, and yours and the country sides too. The numbers may vary from local to local; but the problem exists everywhere across our great land. We don't know there faces, we don't know their names. We see them and want to avert our eyes. In some cases we may be afraid. Perhaps they are too. Afraid of another cold lonely night without a roof over their heads, afraid of another cold lonely night without food, afraid of another cold lonely night when they might have to be on the run or hide or try and protect what little they do have. Yes, I think they too have fear.

According to statastics, there are some 12,000 homeless on any given night in my state of Ohio alone. Of that 12,000 about 1,500 of them go un-sheltered. Like this man in the above picture finding rest in the middle of what appears to be a sidewalk or parking lots. No doubt some heat might exists in the concrete to help warm him.

In Ohio, The FMR (fair market rent) for a 2 bedroom apartment is $683.00. Rule of thumb is one shouldn't spend more than 30% of ones income on housing. To afford an apartment that cost $683.00 (FMR) using the 30% rule a person would need an income of $27,326.00 annually. That annual figure breaks out to $13.14 an hour given a 40 hour work week. The minimum hourly rate in Ohio is $7.30. Given the state's current minimum that worker would need to work 72 hours a week to afford the 2 bedroom apartment. You can quickly see from those stats compiled by localities and the federal government; why so many are homeless. Think of the people you know, how many make the $13.14 an hour and work a steady 40 hour work week. AND, how many do you know who's rent is well above the $683.00 (FMR)?

Please help where you can. We have many ways to help. Our primary goal has always been hats, mittens, and scarves. Those items can be knitted or crocheted and we do collect them all year long. Yes even in the hot months of July and August. We want to be prepared with a ready supply as soon as the first frost hits. In addition we always need store bought socks. Socks are needed during all 4 season. Can you buy a bag? I've added a badge here for Pine Street (click on side panel to read more about it), they are in need of 9 inch squares. Those squares can be knitted or crocheted. Please measure your squares twice. You can forward directly or send along to me with your other donations and I'll mail in bulk.

I wonder who's son, brother, uncle, husband or father the man is the picture is. The face of homelessness is sad.

**Please see suggestion made in comment by Sandie, I think it's a good one. I can buy socks in bulk and if folks want to send along a little something with their regular donations it wouldn't add to the cost of mailing.

2010
Scarves 143+2=145
Hats 188
Mittens 13 pairs
Socks 28 pairs


2008-2009
Hats 368
Mittens 66
Scarves 147
Socks 79 pair
*counts from day 1, Dec 2 2008

Appreciating Your Thoughtful Donations

Thank you Mary S for this thoughtful and generous donation.  Mary has knitted scarves, hats, cotton washcloths and cowl/hoods.  Please click to see the details and textures in her scarves, really quite nice.  Mary I LOVE LOVE these hood cowl things...I'm not sure what to call them.  Could you tell us what pattern you used when knitting these?  Folks if you'd not seen these, let me try to explain you put it on like a cowl...nice thick and warm around your neck, but you can pull it up around your head and it makes a wonderful warm hood, and still your neck is covered.

Special thanks too Mary for tagging all your hats with size, much appreciated.

Many thanks and please keep up the good work Mary!

2015 DONATIONS:
Hats: 183+8=191
Scarves 71+2=73
Mittens/Gloves/Wrist Warmers: 45
Slippers: 63
Rain Poncho's:  53
Cotton Washcloths: 113+2=115
Afghans: 7
Socks: 126
Cowls/Hood Combo's/ 12+5=17
Shawls 1
Misc: items like personal care and things don't fit into above categories aren't counted

Tomorrows post makes 1500!  Wow, I really never thought that might be possible when I started this blog way back in the day.

**I'll be listing these posts for awhile, to give you all ample time to read them.  There truly is lots of information in them and I want you all to know as much about Homelessness as possible.  These posts were generated from my participation in an annual April Blog Challenge where you blog in alphabetically order.
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
W=Water in Doorways, Sprays Homeless
X=Xenophobia
Y=Yarn Helps Homeless
Z=Finding Zen

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.