Extreme Condtions hard on the Homeless

Homeless have it hard regardless of the season, winter months they deal with ice, sleet, rain, snow, and freezing temperatures. Summer can present the opposite problems. We've been kniting, crocheting and donating hats, scarves, mittens, slippers, and other warm items to help the homeless and those without or very little heat during 3 seasons, Spring (which can still have freezing temperatures in this state), fall (which be frosty), and the brutal winter. Our dear friend and long time supporter, Bunny got to thinking about how hot it's been and how much we all rely on our air conditioners with these extreme heat indexes and came up with the above item. These are cool ties. These need to be soaked in water and will last up to several days to provide some cooling when warm around the neck. These are used by our military in extreme conditions.

Our other good friend Sandie in Louisiana has a link with directions where people who sew can make these cool ties. I'm hopeful obtaining the water to activate these is doable and have put forth that question to our friend, Rae who deliveries our goods to The Bridge Folks when she takes them meals. Stay tuned for more information regarding this idea. Many thanks Bunny for your creative thinking.
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!

Hitting the jackpot with donations for Ohio's Homeless

Look at this wonderful donation from Kim in Washington. It's fabulous. Beautifully made hats, and scarves...soft and warm, and a wonderful selection of colors too. Kim is our newest pair of helping hands and is our first person to represent the state of Washington. Or at least our first since I started documenting where people were from on our map. I don't want to overlook if you donated previously and are from the state....please sing out. Love to get everyone properly documented on our map below. If you've not checked out it, please do.

Many thanks Kim for your wonderful donation, we're thrilled to have your helping hands helping us with this sad problem of homeless people, and others in need.

Only 2 days more days folks for squares, our July focus...then onto August were we'll be focused on hats for men. Remember, while we do highlight an item monthly all items are collected all year long...except squares. Squares need to be specific to the month they are highlighted. We have a working calendar above if you'd like to see what's up and coming.

2011 Donations
Scarves 231+ 15=246
hats 468+ 39=507
mittens 117
socks 90
ghans 29 (2 donated previously to Pine Street)
Squares 331
Sweaters 5
Poncho's 58

Adding the state of Washington to our map gives us a percentage of 60% with 30 states being representated. Pretty awesome over half the country is helping the cause.

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!

Fun, Funky, and Fabulous with some Frills

Fun....check
Funky.....double check, see those stripes hats with the curly decorations?
Fabulous, see the bright colored warmly knitted hat with ties?
Frills, see the lacy hats with scalloped edges decorated with flowers?

These 12 hats were both knitted (striped hats and hat with tie), and crocheted (all lacy ones) and donated by Bridget in Michigan for Ohio's homeless. The lacy hats are small and I think will work for some of the girls to wear indoors and look stylish. Everyone feels good, or at least better when they look stylish and these kids can surely use a lift.

Thank you Bridget for your thoughtful donation. I particularly loved the knitted curly ques for hat decorations...........kids love fun hats.

**3 more days for squares, then onto Hats for Men, warm hats, dark colors best for men is our August focus**

2011 Donations:

Scarves 231
Hats 456+12=468
Mittens (gloves) 117
Socks 90
Slippers 68
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 331
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 58
Cotton Washcloths 270


**Please find your name on the lists in the right hand sidebar. Is a state listed by your name? Still many unknowns. Please leave a comment with your name and state so records can be updated....and we can update our map at the bottom of the page. We've not had an update in quite some time to it. Currently records indicate donations have come from 29 different states for a percentage of 58. I'm willing to bet some of the good folks who've donated come from some of the other states. Please take a look.

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!

Scrumptious Slippers and Squares Donated

4 pairs of warm, soft knitted slippers and 38 mostly crocheted squares from Nelda in Michigan being donated for Ohio's homeless..........SCRUMPTIOUS!! Lots of fun colors in the squares too.

Nelda, if you're out there reading this please email me sandycrochet@gmail.com When I tried to email you to let you know your wonderful and thoughtful donation arrived the email was returned as mail demon...Apparently you have a different email? If anyone is in a group with Nelda would you sing out so I can contact her?
**edited to add...we've made contact, thanks!

Just a handful of days left in our July focus of 7-10 inch squares before we move onto our August focus of hats for men. Please think warm, large, and colors appropriate for men. Men live outdoors when their homeless, and often only get a night here and there in a shelter so please nothing with an open weave.

*Actually, nothing with an open weave is our rule of thumb for all hats, scarves, and mittens and we need items to be warm*

**Squares will be collected again in the year 2012.

***Would love to get an email from all local knitters and crocheters interested in doing a work day. If you're in and around Columbus and would be available to collect up for a work day, please zap me an email. ***


2011 Donations:

Scarves 231
Hats 456
Mittens (gloves) 117
Socks 90
Slippers 64+4=68
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 293+38=331
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 58
Cotton Washcloths 270

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!

Helping Hands for the Homeless in the Neighborhood

Woot Woot! New helping hands for the homeless. That always makes me excited. These 6 knitted hats come from a new pair of helping hands, from Becky, (sleepy on Rav), right here in the state of Ohio. In fact, Becky and I are practically neighbors. Through the beauty of the internet we're now connected. Funny to have someone practically be neighbor, but the way we meet/get connected is through the internet. Many thanks Becky for these fabulous knitted hats for the homeless. Look at the lower left corner, that pink hat with the details...........isn't it wonderful!

With our work schedules we didn't get to meet face to face, yet. Am hopeful we'll be able to do that soon. Appreciate your help Becky and loo forward to more donations and visits from from you for Bridge and Beyond.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 231
Hats 450+6=456
Mittens (gloves) 117
Socks 90
Slippers 64
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 293
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 58
Cotton Washcloths 270

**Did you read about our new google page rank? If not, please please do HERE.
****Just 6 more days for squares, then we'll be onto our August Focus...Men's Hats****
******Notice our Alexa ranking? Read about it HERE******


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!

Hats, Scarves and more for the Homeless

Our good friend RoseMarie's done it again folks. By now I'm willing to bet some of you could look at the donation and know it's from her. Her hats are often edge in a different color which she coordinates with her signature button flower decoration. RoseMarie donated 4 crocheted matching hat and scarves sets, a headband, and more wonderful soap and shampoo for our personal care packs. There are also 2 pairs of slippers and 5 squares.

If you click to enlarge the picture (remember you can always do that to see details), you'll notice a little purse on the left just above the soaps. I'm going to use that as one of the personal care packages. We'll put some soap, shampoo and of course a handmade (knit or crocheted) washcloth.

Thank you RoseMarie for your ongoing support of caring for Ohio Homeless with your thoughtful donations. We appreciate it, and we appreciate you.

2011 Donations:

Scarves 227+4=231
Hats 446+4=450
Mittens (gloves) 117
Socks 90
Slippers 62+2=64
Ghans 29 (2 went to Pine Street Earlier)
Squares 287+5=293
Sweaters 5
Ponchos 58
Cotton Washcloths 270

**Just 7 more days for squares to be knitting, crocheted, and donated for our July focus, then we'll move on to our August focus. Please keep checking the working calendar on the tab across the top of the blog.**

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!