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It has been busy for Love-Squared since Tent City. Squares have been arriving steadily. This week, between Christie, Kathy, and myself, we have been fielding questions and comments from long-time followers and people just hearing about us. Most of the traffic has been coming through our facebook page, but not all of it. To those of you out there spreading the word, a huge heartfelt “THANK YOU.”

Anyway, before I let myself get more distracted, the huge upswing in interaction has me thinking. Usually, when I begin thinking, it leads to a new challenge. Our last challenge was a smashing success. I really had my doubts that we would actually collect enough squares to make 100 blankets. Again, you all proved me wrong. This challenge is going to be a bit different. Instead of challenging you with a number, I challenge you by location. Intrigued?

How many of the 50 states can we collect squares from? This may be the most difficult challenge yet. It is going to heavily rely on word of mouth. I believe our first 1,000 challenge brought squares in from 26 states and several countries. This time, can we collect from all 50 states? I honestly don’t know, but I can’t wait to see you all try.

Now it’s time for all of you to get busy keeping the three of us busy. Start knitting and crocheting, send some emails, or better yet, reach out and call someone you haven’t spoke to in a while.  From Today through July 31, 2016 we will be keeping track of and posting locations.

Leah

I admit it. I am horrible at writing blog posts.  I find it much quicker to post photos and quick updates to the facebook page while I’m on the go. I am making more of an effort to keep posts here coming regularly. If you haven’t seen a new post in a while, bug me about it. Keep me on my toes.

This particular blog post was inspired by my eldest son. He emailed me from school yesterday asking if he could use Love-Squared for his community action project. He and a group of students need to find a lesser-known non-profit or charity to research. Then they have to come up with a way to advertise, raise awareness and support for their chosen organization. I don’t have all of the details yet, but it sounds like an excellent unit for these junior high kids. I remember loving a project like this in my high school sociology class. Thank you, Mr. DiPaolo.

At first I was going to tell him no. Then I thought, well, why not Love-Squared? We do not have the federal non-profit status as of yet, another detail that keeps getting put on the back burner, but we are a charity organization that focuses on our communities. Sounds like a good candidate for his project and for others out there.  How many other schools and youth programs do community service projects? I’m guessing there are more than I can count.

Now I put the idea out there for you. Those of you who are teachers, community leaders, scout leaders, youth group leaders, church members, etc., think about getting the kids involved. Teach a group to knit or crochet, create a square collection drop-off box in your community, help put the blankets together, or do a yarn drive. We are always needing yarn to turn these squares into blankets, or to hand out to donors who would be unable to contribute without donated yarn. There are so many ways to help Love-Squared. We truly rely on word of mouth and the generosity of the community to keep us going.

I am excited to hear about the way you are going to get the youth, or your circle of people, involved. I am here to answer questions or listen to ideas. Email me at leah@love-squared.org or comment on the page of www.facebook.com/lovesquared2

Hello to all.

I hope all of the holiday celebrations were wonderful. First I want to say Love-Squared is going strong. I received a message recently from someone who had been told we had stopped accepting squares and were no longer in business. That is not the case. We are still working hard in the midwest and gaining ground in Oregon. KEEP THE SQUARES COMING and keep spreading the word. We cannot make this happen without all of you.

Squares can be sent to:

Now to the super exciting news. Donations have been steadily coming in. Since November 1, 2014, Love-Squared has received

636 SQUARES!  Many completed blankets and a large amount of yarn!

They have come from all over the United States and as far away as Puerto Rico! That blows me away. We still have four months to go to reach the goal of 3,000. With this momentum I believe we can do it! KEEP THEM COMING!  Photos can be seen at www.facebook.com/lovesquared2

As always, Kathy and Christie, along with their seaming elves, have been busy and accomplishing the near impossible. I have posted this on the facebook page, but their hard work made it possible to donate a blanket for every child at a family shelter in Jackson, MI and nearly all of the children at Family House. I am still beyond words for that accomplishment. It has always been my goal to take on more shelters, and be able to provide blankets for every single child living in them. Both of these goals became a reality at the end of 2014.

As always I must leave you with a huge heartfelt THANK YOU! Love-squared could not do what it is doing without all of you!

Our lovely Christie and Joe

Before we get to the challenge I’d like to give you a bit of back story. I have been thinking about this goal for a few years but did not have a way to accomplish it. Shortly after Love-Squared began, my husband, eldest son, and myself volunteered in the dining hall at Toledo’s Tent City. Tent City is a weekend-long event that provides meals; warm clothing; medical/dental care; hair cuts; and help getting very important documents like birth certificates, state ID’s, and social security cards. The hours we spent serving and conversing with our fellow Toledoans of ALL ages was eye opening. There was laughter and smiles and friendship every where we looked. This cemented for me Tent City founder, Ken Leslie’s concept of “1matters.”  Every single person matters — no matter who they are or what their current situation. It was an amazing weekend and I hope many of you will look into these organizations or events that you may have in your area. Any way, back to the reasons for the new challenge. As we were walking back to our car that evening, we saw many of the children and families we had spoken with during the day getting tucked into their cars. Extra coats and socks were being put on for the chilly night. It broke my heart to say the very least. I have not stopped thinking about what more I could do and the idea took hold. There was no way to make it happen a few years ago, but with all of you on board WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

The new challenge to all of you is 3,000 squares. Three thousand squares for 100 blankets that will be given to children and families who want them at next year’s Tent City.

 This is a huge goal, but we have one full year to make it happen. Starting today, November 5, 2014 through May 1, 2015, we need to collect 3,000 squares.  Use left over scraps from your holiday knitting/crochet projects. Make a square as an instant gratification project between longer to complete items. Remember, 8″ x 8″ of any fiber, color, or pattern. Plain or fancy, they are all loved and needed.

EVERY SINGLE SQUARE HELPS US REACH THE GOAL!!!

Hello to all of you.

As always, it has been a while since I last posted to the blog. Most of you are aware that my family and I made a huge change and relocated to Oregon. Unfortunately, that meant taking a break from squares. A huge thank you to Kathy and Christie for keeping Love-Squared going strong in Michigan/Ohio. I really don’t know what I have done without you stepping in. Before the kids and I started our three-day journey west, Christie hosted a sorting party. It was a chilly, rainy day. What better weather to remind us how important these blankets are.  At the end of the day full of laughter, chatting, great food, and friendship, we had sorted 1, 620 squares into 54 blankets. Amazing work everyone. I love seeing all of your beautiful work turning into wonderful blankets.

Cooler days and nights are becoming more frequent. This is usually the time when there is a broader awareness of those less fortunate. In reality, warmth and comfort are year-round needs. Love-Squared works hard to make blankets donations throughout the year. The largest donation is usually made at the end of summer/beginning of fall with the increase in families seeking shelters. Family House of Toledo has posted that they are at capacity, with 70 of their residents being children. These seventy children are a tiny fraction of the kids without homes or in need of warmth.

This being said, Love-Squared Michigan could really use help seaming blankets together. We would love to have them done by October 31, 2014, to help SCARE AWAY THE COLD!!!!!

The squares are continuing to trickle in. I can’t thank you enough for your continued support. Keep them coming so we are able to supply these blankets and some day outgrow the need for them! A 1-year long challenge coming next.

As always, you can contact me here, email leah@love-squared.org, or www.facebook.com/lovesquared2