Volunteers distribute scarves for homeless to keep warm

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Much of this winter has been mild so far, but temperatures are trending much colder this week.

A group of volunteers known as Scarves in the Port City are hoping to keep many in our community warm this winter season.

Their mission is to collect and distribute scarves for the homeless during cold weather and to promote kindness and service in our community.

After collecting scarves at a few drop locations since November, volunteers came together Sunday to tag each scarf with a special message. Then, volunteers distributed scarves around the downtown Wilmington and near Greenfield Lake.

Tracie Brisson started this group back in 2014 with her friend Patty George. They say they have been able to distribute hundreds since then.

Brisson first heard about this project from another group of people doing it in Canada. She said it was getting cold here that upcoming night so she contacted George about collecting some scarves to distribute them right before the cool down. They thought they would only do this once, but three winters later they are still doing it.

“It’s really rewarding even though that is not why we are doing it, but when you see people pick up scarves down there and wearing them around, it is nice.” George said. “We have heard some people making comments about how it not only warmed them up but they make them feel very pretty.”

All of the scarves are donated from businesses and community members at multiple drop off locations around New Hanover county.

“We don’t really know, it’s just people in the community,” Brisson said. “We have three drop off locations and we just get tons of donations.”

Brisson brings her young daughters along while working on this project so they are involved with giving back.

“I hope that it is teaching them early on that it is more than about them,” Brisson said. “In our world today, when they are so blessed and have so many things, I want their focus not to be on them but on others.”

George says they tie scarves, hats, mittens, and blankets on trees, railings, and benches.

“It’s not about us,” Brisson said. “It’s about giving back. It’s about helping people in need and it’s about encouraging other people to do the same.”

How to donate or volunteer and for a list of drop off locations, click here.