Hats For Homeless

This Saturday, December 19, at 1:00 p.m., the grandchildren and I will be handing out hats and scarves at Tulsa’s Day Center For The Homeless. It’s located at 415 W. Archer St.

Right now there are about 4 large bags full of hats and scarves. More are on the way. Donations have been coming in from California, Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Minnesota, and Arkansas. Oklahoma donors from Skiatook, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Bixby, Okmulgee and Tulsa. There are also several anonymous donors. All these wonderful people are making a difference in the lives of strangers.

Afterwards, we’ll be going to Braum’s at 7121 E. Admiral for a little ice cream and fellowship. I hope you will join us on Saturday and bring your family. These poor, homeless people have blessed me much more than anything I have done for them.

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord when was it that we did these things for you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.

Matthew 25: 35-45

December has finally arrived. Christmas is just around the corner. I've been making lollipops instead of sugar plums, but that's close enough.

It's time, also, to think about the one's Jesus was talking about when he said, (and I'm paraphrasing here) "However you treat the least of the people is how you are treating me (Jesus)." So, though I am not able to do much, I can crochet hats to give the homeless. With your help, we have covered hundreds and hundreds of homeless heads the last four winters and a good start on this winter has been made.

There are just barely enough hats ready for one more trip to the Day Center For The Homeless here in Tulsa, OK. I will probably make that trip on the 19th of this month.

I would like to give extra thanks here to all of you across the country who have given your time and money to make and send hats and scarves.  Also to those who sent so much yarn. Thank you everyone for making this project such a great blessing.

We'll worry about next year when the time comes.

One of my co-workers, Josh, and his wife, Traci, have a new project going.  They are collecting canned food for the John 3:16 Mission in Tulsa. Their goal is: *2,500 cans by November 21st for Thanksgiving*.  If you live in the Tulsa area and would like to help, call me at 918-850-6882. 

Josh and Traci are a great couple.  They have two daughters plus they have adopted a brother and sister. They are also very active in their church. 

I am so happy to see young adults working at giving back to their community.  I hope some of you who see this will help them with their mission as much as you've helped me with mine.

Thanks to every one of you,

Linda

Two of my granddaughters, Ashley and Danielle, are coming tonight to spend the weekend with us. They, along with their big brother, Brandon, and one of his friends, Seth, will be going with me tomorrow to the Day Center for the Homeless. After we hand out the hats and scarves, we're going to Braum's for icecream and fellowship. Wish you were here.

More fun when we get back home. I found a recipe for hard candy and bought supplies. We'll be trying that out. Two flavors - strawberry and butter rum - yummy!

Also, I bought a book with "Things to make with store bought cookie dough." It looks like some fun food ideas in there.

All-in-all, the grandchildren and I should have a busy weekend. I'll try to get photos tomorrow of the people with their new hats.

Make It A Great Weekend.

Next Saturday is "Make A Difference Day" and we will. Hats and scarves have been coming in from across the country - Florida, California, New York and more. You're all wonderful and you do make a difference.

Granddaughters Ashley and Danielle are planning to spend next weekend with me to help hand out the hats. Friends will be joining us there. Afterwards we plan to fellowship at Braums. (Yeah - Ice Cream)

August 8, 2009

Just received an e-mail from the Difference Day people:

"Dear Make A Difference Day Volunteer,

The countdown to Make A Difference Day 2009 is on! Saturday, October 24,

millions of Americans will again take action in their communities on the

nation's largest day of service.

We hope you'll again be among those millions. USA WEEKEND Magazine wants to know what you'll be doing so we can spread the word to our 50 million readers across

the nation. Please take a moment to register your plans in the Make A Difference

Day DAYtaBank, which can be reached through this link: http://www.mindshares.org//madd2009_DAYtaBANK/MindShares_Register.cfm.

As soon as you register your project, you become eligible to receive free

breakfast for your volunteers from Newman's Own. A total of 50 projects (one

from each state) will be chosen to receive a donation of Newman's Own Sweet

Enough Cereal to feed their volunteers on Make A Difference Day. How sweet is

that?

For more information about this year's program, including planning guides, go to

makeadifferenceday.com. If you have questions, e-mail us at

diffday@usaweekend.com.

Make A Difference Day is now on Facebook

( http://www.facebook.com/makeadifferenceday). If you're a member, please take a

minute to fan us.

Thanks and happy planning! "

As you can tell by all the entries on 'Donations - 2009' page, we are ready. Not only have you sent bags & boxes full of yarn, but also lots and lots of hats, a big bunch of scarves and a gaggle of gloves. From East Coast to West Coast and Northern Most and Southern Most States - you all make a difference every day.

Thanks for being who you are.

Linda

I was going to wait until next winter to hand out more hats. Three more boxes of hats came in the mail Wednesday. Those plus the ones left from our visit on December 13th add up to two very large bags full. So we'll go back to the Day Center For The Homeless here in Tulsa one more time this winter.

January 3rd is the target date, pending acceptable weather conditions. Rodney has already offered himself and his children to help that day. I'll grab whomever is at my house and take them with me.

Any hats remaining from this venture will be taken to the shelter for women and children in Tulsa.

Merry Christmas to All.

It was quite windy when we got to the Day Center. The management let us come inside to hand out the hats. We stood by the Christmas tree and spread out our wares. Soon we were surrounded by the good people at the Center. I couldn't seem to get good photos inside the building. It's hard for me to describe the experience.

One of my co-workers, Rodney, drove in from Sapulpa to help. He brought his two children, Kylie and Heath. My sister, Sharon, came in from Afton. Also, Sandra, from Tulsa, showed up bringing the great neckwarmers she had made. Sandra just recently learned to knit and she did a fabulous job. And, of course, my grandchildren, Ashley and Danielle were there. They live in Inola and spent the weekend with us so they could help.

When we first pulled up in the parking lot, I noticed most of the people had hats. I was concerned that we wouldn't be able to hand out very many of ours. It turned out that the church members who brought the lunch also brought some hats - store bought variety. (I'm not saying there was anything wrong with that, just making a point. I know these wonderful church folk did what they do because they are caring people.) We went ahead and got out the hats and scarves we brought and took them inside. At first, there was little interest in our hats because, after all, they just got new hats. But the word soon spread that what we had were all handmade. That seemed to make a great difference. Many people feel that  handmade means made with loving care. So, all-in-all, we had a good day and handed out lots of hats and scarves. These were made by many people all over the United States. It is quite a statement by all of you that, "Yes, we are United in taking care of our own."

When everyone had a hat and all the scarves were gone, we converged on Braum's for a much needed refueling. It is a wonderful feeling for me to be able to pass on the idea of helping others to my grandchildren. I was delighted that Sharon, Rodney, Kylie and Heath showed up to help.

This will be the last trip to the Day Center until October 2009. We'll continue making the hats and scarves during the year. Though I probably won't do much posting for awhile I'll still check the e-mail and PO Box so don't hesitate if you have comments or questions.

Thank everyone for the fantastic response this year. I wish a 'VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS' to all of you and will see you later.

We had a very good day at the Day Center For The Homeless today. In about 30 minutes, we handed out 218 hats, 39 scarves and 44 pairs of mittens/gloves. I was able to get several photos which you can see on the photo page.

Susie Van Dusen and her husband Ray from Skiatook, Linda McClaflin from Sand Springs, and Sandra Crisp from Tulsa joined my grandchildren, Brandon, Ashley, Hunter and Danielle, and me today. I am very grateful to them all for their assistance.

I am also very grateful to all of you who sent yarn, hats, scarves and mittens to be handed out.

December 13, 2008 is the next scheduled date for going to the Day Center, so keep those hats and scarves and mittens coming folks. It will be even colder by then and there will be a new batch of people needing help.

Thank you all for such a good response.

I am so-o-o-o PROUD of all those who are helping. WE ARE  MAKING A DIFFERENCE. When my oldest grandson saw how much yarn has been donated, he said, "Every homeless person can have 10 hats with all that!" Well, I don't know about 10 for each one, but there have been a LOT of good-hearted people donating yarn.

It is very much appreciated because I can't do this alone. I've tried for 3 years and am ready to admit that, "Yes, I do need you." Now I can keep on doing what I enjoy - which is to crochet. And the poor homeless people will benefit from your kindness by being able to keep a little warmer during the horrible cold weather we have during the winter here in northeast Oklahoma.

So far, in addition to all the yarn, you have sent in 95 HATS,  and 17 SCARVES. That is totally amazing. You can see on the 'Countdown' page how long it took me to make 86 hats. Now, with your help, that has more than doubled. AND, I have been in contact with someone who is going to send in more hats soon.

I think Crafters are the greatest. ;-)  And I believe the angels are putting a star in your crown for this.