Monday 8 October 2018

Hats For The Homeless

Last winter, as the temperatures plummeted, a call was put out for clothing, coats, hats and gloves, to help the homeless. It's a terrible thing to have no home and my heart goes out to those in this predicament, especially so in the harsher weather.


Back in May, I decided to start knitting some hats from yarn I'd got in stash, ready to donate to those in need this winter. I've managed to knit ten in different sizes, styles and colours.

The Yorkshire Building Society are running Socktober, their month long appeal throughout October where they request donations of socks and other items to help support homeless people. The campaign is part of the society's charity partnership with End Youth Homelessness and to raise awareness of World Homeless Day which is on Wednesday the 10th of October. I popped along to my nearest branch and popped the hats I've made into their collection bin.

I'd like to think that ten people will be a little warmer now this winter.

46 comments:

  1. I love knitting hats. I like to knit for half an hour before I go to bed, just to give my min a little time to stop running all over the place, and I've knitted so many hats over the years I can do them without much thought. Mine go to charity too - I sent fifteen off a few days ago. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Hats are easy things to knit and don't take too much yarn. I think they're a great thing to knit for the homeless as so much heat escapes from the head. I'm hoping they help keep some people warm this winter.

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  2. Hello Jo, and thanks for visiting my blog. Like you, I knit for charity too, it seems the least we can do, and I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to be without a roof over your hear, a home you can go to when things get difficult.

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    1. You expect that the most basic thing, a roof over your head, is something you'll always have. Unfortunately, that's not so for some people. There's so many charities which are thankful to receive knitted items.

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  3. Lovely thing to do, I agree life must be hard on the streets. We don't get too many rough sleepers in our small town and none in the village, but we decided a couple of years ago to buy them hot food and drink, often from Greg's who do a homeless meal deal.

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    1. I didn't know that Greggs do a meal deal for the homeless. I've never seen a rough sleeper in our small town either but there's so many of them in Leeds, it really is quite dreadful that they have to live this way.

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  4. A lovely thing to do Jo and the hats are lovely too! I am sure they will be appreciated.

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    1. I hope they'll help someone out this winter, I'm just hoping that it isn't a bad one.

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  5. Good for you and well done. xx

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    1. There's so many ways to help out different charities and knitting up hats doesn't take very much time at all.

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  6. What a lovely idea. It must be so awful to be homeless, but as the weather gets colder, I can’t even imagine how dreadful it must be xx

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    1. I remember watching the local news last year when there were appeals for warm coats for the homeless. It must be shocking to be on the streets at any time of year but especially so in winter.

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  7. That's a lovely idea Jo and I'm sure those that receive your hats will make full use of them as the weather turns colder.

    Mitzi

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    1. I'm not a fan of the cold weather myself so can only imagine how awful it is being homeless during the winter months. I do hope these hats help someone.

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  8. What a lovely thing to do Jo, i'm sure come the Winter your hats will be much appreciated.

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    1. I hoped to get a few more done but decided to stop here when I say the Socktober Appeal. I can always knit some more at a later date.

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  9. This is a wonderful effort!!!!!

    It 'warms' both the giver, and the one who receives.

    ✨🍁✨🍁✨🍁✨🍁✨

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    1. That's very true, I like to think that I'm doing my bit.

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  10. WEll done, they will truly make someone more comfortable and feel better. I know whenever I take the donations from my charity, Bridge and Beyond to the various shelters how well things are received. Keep up the good work.

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    1. It's terrible to think of people out in all weathers. I hope these hats will make a small difference to someone.

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  11. I am so pleased that your previous post gave me inspiration to knit some hats. Hopefully a few people in Reading will be able to use them. xcx

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    1. Your hats look great and I'm sure they'll be very well received. I like the patterns you used for them.

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  12. So generous and thoughtful. It is heart breaking to think of people living on the streets.

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    1. It is. We're supposed to be a first world country yet there is so much poverty.

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  13. A great selection you've donated Jo. They are great,

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    1. I used what yarn I had in stash and selected three different patterns so they are all slightly different.

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  14. Such a thoughtful idea Jo and I'm sure they will be much appreciated. It's just so sad that they are needed in this day and age. X

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    1. It's unbelievable how many homeless people there are in the UK. The charities which help do such a great job.

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  15. YOu have done a great thing. A wonderful caring thing. It makes my heart swell with pride when knitters do charity knits. We are a good group. Thank you for caring for others

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    1. Crafters are such a generous group of people, I remember my mum knitting for charity when I was a child and I'm sure the generations before her will have done the same.

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  16. You are well organised and judging by all the berries about it might be a cold winter. x

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    1. I suspect you may be right, the homeless will need lots of help if it turns out to be the case.

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  17. What a lovely thing to do! I can't even imagine sleeping rough at any time of year, let alone Winter. I'm very grateful that I have a roof over my head.

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    1. I feel the same and some of the stories you hear make you realise that it could happen to anyone, you just need to be down on your luck. It's very sad.

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  18. Gorgeous hats, I'm sure the recipients will be more than grateful. Such a wonderful thing to do.xxx

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    1. It's just a small way in which I can help so I'm more than happy to do so.

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  19. The hats are beautiful & you are so generous with your time & knitting. Well done & take care.

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    1. I hope they help some people keep a little warmer this winter.

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  20. Life on the streets must be so hard.
    I think these hats look great and will be well received.
    A very good thing to do Jo.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I can't imagine how people on the streets cope. A roof over our head is a basic need and yet so many people are without this. I hope the hats help keep some people warm this winter.

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  21. This is such a lovely, kind and thoughtful thing to do.
    x

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    1. Homelessness is such a huge problem for so many people so knitting hats allows me to help in a small way.

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  22. what a fabulous thing to do! I knitted a square blanket last year ... hmmm ... all the squares are still here in a pile, needing their ends sewed in and then knitted together - it's a long time till next winter now, so they'll sit here for months and months still!

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    1. I enjoyed knitting the hats, they were easy knits whilst watching TV and hopefully, will keep some people warm this winter. I hate sewing ends in so try and do them as I go.

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  23. Such a kind and generous thing to do. It makes me so sad to think of those without homes, especially the young, to wonder what went wrong so early.
    Lisa x

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    1. It's something which could happen to anyone, which is so sad to think about. I do hope the hats are keeping a few people a little warmer now it's turned cold.

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