Final Notes on The Warm Hugs Project

The Warm Hugs Project has a failure status for this year due to lack of interest, not enough pre-planning, and not enough advertising. Not a single blanket was collected. And while I hate to have to report on a failure, especially a failure of this magnitude, I still want to praise God for putting me through this experience. It showed me a lot of weaknesses that I have in some areas that I need to improve and I can definately grow from this. But, please keep watch and plan for The Warm Hugs Project 2012!

Changes to Warm Hugs

Since Warm Hugs was created almost a month ago, some changes have been made. First off it is now called "The Warm Hugs Project" instead of just "Warm Hugs."

Second is a change to the donations received. Blankets now can just be new or gently used blankets, gotten from any place you like. Whether you go out to the store and find one or just donate a gently used blanket that just's sitting around your house taking up space, all will be accepted. The change comes from the fact that not too many people seemed interested in making a blanket, and I don't blame them. It's a lot of hard work. Blankets are a big thing that take a lot materials and a lot of time.

Donations will be accepted from now until February 19. So if you are interested in donating a blanket, please email me at avonlea.elena@gmail.com for the shipping address.

~Miri

Warm Hugs Intro

Okay, so, here's the deal. Warm Hugs is a project of my own design, inspired by the books by Alex and Brett Harris. I've been thinking lately that it would have been easier to simply ask for blankets, but God normally doesn't do easier. I'm asking for people to commit to a month-long project of making a blanket that would then be sent to me for distribution. These blankets would go to homeless shelters (The Shepherd Place, ect) that have blankets on their wish list.
According to a 1996 NSHAPC survey,

Family status

• 61% Single men
• 15% Single women
• 12.2% Women with children
• 4.6% Other women
• 5.3% Other men
• 2.3% Men with children

Racial demographics of head of household

• 41% White, non-Hispanic
• 40% Black, non-Hispanic
• 11% Hispanic
• 8% Native American
• 1% Other

Length of current homeless period

• 5% Less than one week
• 8% Greater than one week, less than one month
• 15% One to three months
• 11% Four to six months
• 15% Seven to twelve months
• 16% Thirteen to twenty four months
• 10% Twenty-five to sixty months
• 20% Five or more years

Lifetime self-reported alcohol, drug and mental health problems

• 62% Alcohol
• 58% Drugs
• 57% Mental health
• 27% Mental health and alcohol or drug (dual diagnosed)

It is also said that 3.5 million people can be homeless, whether for a short or extended period of time, in a year. Causes behind this could be things like mental illnesses, disabilities, substance abuse, fleeing from domestic violence, institutional release, natural disasters, or unexpected emergencies such as being laid off from work or a house fire.

The goal for the project is fifty blankets. So far I can count on one, maybe two. E-mail me if you have any questions or anything that needs to be said. avonlea.elena@gmail.com

God bless!
~Miri