Knitted and Donating Scarves and Washcloths

Thank you Sue S for this awesome donation of knitted goodies.  Sue S has knitted 2 very nice scarves.  I LOVE the variegated yarn, the colors will work for men or women!  She's also knitted 6 cotton washcloths with lots of fun variegated yarn.  AND she's included some personal care items she collected a hotel, and some razors for the men.

Sorry the picture is a bit dark, it was such a dark gloomy day here when I took the picture.  Even after edited the photo to enhance the colors a bit it's still pretty dark.  You know it's gloomy and dark when you have all the lights in the house on at 2 in the afternoon.  

Hope everyone is staying warm, the temps have surely been low all around the country, I just can't imagine how bad it is for those living outside, or for those who need to be outside during the day waiting for the time the shelters allow them indoors.

Let us strive this year to do as much as we can.  Even if each of us donates one additional item over last years personal totals...think what a difference that would make.

I also want to thanks Sue for her dedication in visiting and commenting daily on the blog.  I truly appreciate that.  It so helps.  Thank you for all you do.

**Please note the number of items have been added to the individual progress bars, but the percentages will be done next on 20th of January**

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.

Begging and Homelessness

This is another picture that shows, in a very strong way what many in our community do when they see a homeless person.  Did you see the previous post?  How can we fix homelessness, if we don't acknowledge it?  Do we (Collective We), not acknowledge it because we don't know how to fix it?  

I don't know the answers, but sometimes think people look away because they don't want to stare, which is considered impolite.  Maybe just smiling, or saying hello would be a step to make them feel less invisible?

None of the above has mentioned begging, so let me address that, since it is the title of the post.  (Just found the picture profound).  Recently I've read some articles about some communities cracking down on what they are calling aggressive begging.  The first article was actually from The UK.  The area where the royal wedding will be, has a handful of homeless/street people.  Their government has decided it's inappropriate for them to be there on the doorsteps when the royal wedding uses that particularly route.  They indicate they are being forceful---aggressive with begging, some who work or live in the area say that's not true; while other business want the homeless gone.  Apparently, the problem is global, not specific to The United States.

I've passed people who have a can or bucket ...some container and are requesting donations, but, I've never had anyone actually approach me and beg for money.  Have you?  Do you give money to those with containers?  Some say it helps, others say it's not a good idea, as some aren't real homeless people, but con artists.  How do you know if you're really helping someone?  Isn't it better to perhaps give donations to someone who might be a con artist, than to not help anyone?

I see both sides of the issue, and have from time to time drop some money in the container; other times not.  I don't more than I do, and sometimes I later feel badly because I didn't.  Sometimes it's because I don't want to open my purse, sometimes it's because I know I don't have small bills..........I often carry very little cash, because I charge 99.9% of all my purchases.  I sometimes put a couple of dollars in a pocket (if I have one, and often as a women don't have pockets), so if see someone I can make a contribution without getting into my purse.  

Tell us what you do?  Tell us what you've seen.  Perhaps we can learn from each other.

In my effort to blog in ABC order, this is my B post.
A post is HERE, if you missed it.

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.

Afghans and Homeless

There are so many faces of homelessness.  Some of the faces though are faces not often seen.  5 people in this picture at a traffic light waiting to cross.  The picture seems to make a point of showing how faceless the homeless person on the ground is.  Several appear to be purposely looking any other direction.  The young woman, takes what appears to be a quick sideways glance.....and then we assume the light changes.  I am told in a good number of articles I've read, we as a society look away because it makes us uncomfortable.  We look away because it's easier not to see the faces.

Several years ago I entered a blog contest that challenge bloggers to blog in alphabetically order.  It was a daily challenge.  I am going to attempt to blog in ABC order in hopes of having more blog posts written, even if there are no donations to show that particular day.  I'm probably not going to be able to do it daily,  but will attempt the ABC to have something here much more often that last year.  More frequent posts are suppose to help the SEO placement, just like more blog visits do, and more blog comments and sharing links etc.  So, I'll be sharing pictures, some stats and some of things I've found along the way about homelessness.

A=Afghan Afghans
Goal: 36
Start: #1
Current: 1

0.0277%

START

END

This is our current Tally and Goal regarding Afghans.  36, our goal is an average of the afghans donated over the last 5 years here on Bridge and Beyond.  We've started, and have had 1 donated so far, thus are current number is 1, and you see the percentage of goal accomplished.

I still have squares, stripes, and some pieces parts of things that have been donated over the years that eventually become afghans.  Additionally, sometimes I knit or crochet a ghan from start, and many of you good people do that same.   If you're new to the blog you might not know how our Afghans are used and or why we donate them.

This afghan is one my Great Grandmother made.  I consider it quite a marvelous treat that I still have this.  It's quite old.  Currently, it's not being used and is need of repair; but it's this afghan that propelled me to think how special afghans can be to people.  We donate afghans to families transitioning from shelter living to a permanent housing situation.  With their afghan specially packaged in a clear very large ziplock bag with handles is a letter briefly telling them we congratulate them on their accomplishment, we wish them well in the future and that the afghan is a celebration for them.  The letter tells them how to launder the afghan so that it can withstand the test of time, using a quick story about me having this afghan from my Great Grandmother.

Naturally afghans keep people warm and everyone loves to curl up under one.  It's a feeling of being loved, and comforted.  So, we donated afghans to Homeless Families Foundation and hope that we are providing warmth, comfort, and a sense of pride and accomplishment, as well as hope for the future.

Here's the link for our Afghan Tab
Please take a minute and read the information about size, laundering, perfumes, smoking, pets etc if you're knitting or crocheting an afghan to donate to an appreciative family.

**TRULY, our ghans are received as very precious items.   This is a note from one of my contacts from Homeless Families Foundations.
Sandy  - I wanted to share a story with you...Today one of our clients came in and he was picking out some scarves and hats from what you brought in for us. He started talking about how he use to have a blanket that his grandmother had crocheted for him and due to moving around a lot he had lost it. When I pulled out one of the wonderful blankets you had brought into us and told him that his grandmother didn't make it but hopefully he could think about her when he uses it, he was so thankful. He darn near started to cry which gave me the goosebumps. So thank you once again for all that you do for us at The Homeless Families Foundation. It truly means a lot to our families!

That's the afghan she gave him.  During a later delivery to Homeless Families Foundation, I met the gentleman from the above story.  It was a very special feeling for me.  So,please know if you've knitted or crocheted afghans in the past for Bridge and Beyond, they are very special.  AND, if you've not in the past; please do consider making one to donate.

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.

Crocheted Eclectic Afghan for Homeless Families Foundation

This afghan is one I tried hard to finish to add to our numbers for 2017, and just didn't make it.  It wouldn't have made us hit our goal;  believe we would have been within 3.  So instead it will start us out on this years goal which is 36 afghans (the average of the last 5 years).  It's a bit eclectic in nature, different than those I've made more recently; but I actually like it's weirdness.  The yellow and white striped square was donated some time back by Ann M.  I laid it aside until I could work on it to make it large enough to be an afghan.

It's bright, cheery, and large enough for a family afghan.  It's sorta made in the log cabin style.  It's currently drying as it's being blocked and will get added to the deliveries that are currently packed in my trunk.  By the time you all read this scheduled post, it's already been delivered.  Team effort, thanks Ann for the start.

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.