SALT LAKE CITY — Participants of a Facebook group helped to make and distribute hundreds of handmade hats and scarves to help Utahns stay warm during the winter.
"Scarfs in the Park," works all year to make hats, scarves and gloves. On Saturday, they hung the 2,200 items donated on a fence in Liberty Park for people to take.
"Especially this year too there is a bigger need," says founder Suzette Aposhian. "I think we have more hungry people than we've ever had and no, we don't have food, but we can warm them up with a hat or a scarf."
From people experiencing homelessness, to those who may just need help giving a gift during the holiday season, the scarves and hats are available to all.
"There's no questions asked, no strings, if we can just brighten somebody's day, we've done our job," she said.
Four years ago, the project collected about 300 items. Aposhian says the snowball effect and generosity of community members has helped to grow the project into what it is today.
"We have a lot of really good people in Salt Lake and people really do want to help one another and so it's been very widely accepted and people have been excited to help."
Even if you don't crochet or knit, there are many other opportunities to contribute to the effort.
"Whether they're a donation spot or they make items or they just come and hang the items, people are happy to pitch in and help."
As this year's project comes to a close, preparations for next year have already begun.
"We pretty much start accepting donations today for next year."
They hope that their donations will help to bring holiday cheer and warmth to people in need and that next year's effort will be able to reach even more people.
