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!

Memories of Bridge and Beyond and all YOU'VE Accomplished

As we approach the end of this year, 2010; I thought it might be fun and appropriate to see where we've been. On Dec 2, 2008 I made my first post here after putting together the blog. I envisioned a team style blog, but ran into issues with compatibility and found trying to work with it cumbersome. So very quickly changed to a regular blog, where I post but anyone can comment...member or non member, blogger or non blogger. That proved to be a good change, as we've had much help from fellow knitters and crocheters who don't happen to be fellow bloggers. Some we know from Crochetville, some from Ravelry, and some find us and make contact via email.

By December 5, 2008 one of our blog readers Sunny Fairy designed our cool blog badge. Though we no longer hear from her via blogging, we still use the cool badge she designed. Thank you very much Sunny Fairy, it is still appreciated.

In less than a week, 6 days to be exact I received the first of many emails to come asking for an address to mail donations, and clarifying how they might help the cause. I can still remember how excited I was to get those emails on Dec 8, having only started the blog on the 2nd. WOW

By December 9th, we had our first donation. Hats off to our Very Dear and long time friend, Bunny. Bunny still supports us with her talent. Many thanks! Her name is clickable if you'd like to pop over and say hi on her blog.

A few days later, I finished my first scarf for the cause.

By Dec, 31, 2008...less than one month from start up we had collected 24 scarves and 33 hats! In that time frame I had written 19 posts, and we had 100 comments.

During the first month Dec 2nd through Dec 31, 2008 The following people knitted, or crocheted and sent donations:
Bunny, Dorothy in Wisc, Frosty from Rav, Dorothy in San Antonio, Judy from Ohio, Molly, Sandie from Louisiana, and Melanie (Lil_Knitter from Rav).
I'd like to take another opportunity to say THANK YOU. It is because of you, I felt encouraged to continue to knit and crochet and blog often about our cause. It is because of you I felt encouraged to continue the fight to help homeless and those in need.

My deepest appreciation for each and every stitch you've made.
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!

Another Afghan for Faith Mission

In need of being laundered, then a bit of blocking and away we go with another completed afghan for the folks at Faith Mission. You've probably seen this in various stages as a work in progress. I would have preferred to have all the edges, stripes in navy; but not having enough of it, went to plan B which was to add burgundy. It's not as dark as the knitted squares from Rose Marie, but it's also not as orange as it looks in the picture. This is a good size ghan, heavy and warm. I believe it's suitable for an adult (mother), and or an older son given it's size.

Enjoyed working with Rose Marie's nice knitted squares. As you read this 2 more ghans are in the works, so please keep your squares coming throughout the month of December. See details for Give a Square in the sidebar please.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 574
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 6+1=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!

Knitted Comfort for Homeless

Knitted hats, and squares from Louise. Look how cute, how soft. The yellow square has a clover, and the white square spells out love. How awesome is that! Many thanks Louise for your continued support for the cold homeless here in Ohio; it is so very much appreciated.

I'll be adding these squares to others received keep you all posted when I design another ghan. As you read this 2 more are in the works. We're making wonderful headway in our quest to make ghans for women and children living in temporary housing at Faith Mission where their needs are great. Many of these Mothers and children were abused, some were homeless; but all are in need. For the months of Nov. and Dec. we're accepting squares to assemble ghans for as many of them as we can. Please see details in the sidebar titled Give a Square.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 572+2=574
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 6
Squares 130+3=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!

Another ghan finished for Faith Mission

Needs to be washed and blocked and then can be on it's way. I like the way the colors change, I like the way I used up lots of odds and ends, and I like how that helped me get re-acquainted with some stuff in my stash. However....I'm not happy with no right and wrong side in order to use up the yarn, and to change colors when the yarn ran out instead of estimating and cutting and changing like one normally would on one side. However, it is warm, bright and cheery and will probably be well received by someone in need. Note to self....don't make one this way again.

2010
Scarves 306
Hats 572
Mittens 143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5+1=6
Squares 130

**Trying to locate a T. Miller regarding the donated mittens, anyone know a T. Miller who crochets??**

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!

Squares and Hats Donated

Our friend Rose Marie made more knitted and crocheted squares, hats, and a pair of thumbless mittens. You might remember her knitted squares were used in The blue and burgundy ghan previously, and some more in colorful blocks ghan that's been designed but not yet assembled.

Many thanks Rose Marie for your on going support of our cause, warming the homeless in Central Ohio. We appreciate each and every item you've made. Keep up the good work.


2010
Scarves 306
Hats 566+6=572
Mittens 142+1=143
Socks 80
Slippers 15
Ghans 5
Squares 123+7=130

Have you read about Give a Square? Please do, click badge in the sidebar.

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!