Operation Scarf Sudbury partners with NISA to help less fortunate

Operation Scarf Sudbury was created last yearafter Vanessa Siegersaw too many people unequipped for the bitterly cold temperatures of a northern Ontario winter.

She started leaving packages of winter outerwearlike hats, mitts and scarves, around the downtown bus terminal and local shelters.

"I work late and I noticed a lot of people standing outside the busstationthat were not properly equipped for the cold weather. So I just started collecting [winter outerwear]. My workplace helped me a lot and Ithink we put out about 50 bags last year. They were gone within minutes."

Sieger calls Operation Scarf Sudbury acampaign to help spread warmth to the less fortunate in the city.

Operation Scarf Sudbury partnerswith NISA

As Siegerwas preparing to begin the second winter ofthe campaign she was approached by Audrey O'Brien from theNorthern Initiative for Social Action (NISA)to see about a partnership.

O'Brien says the agency, which helps those with mental illness, has a program called Warm Hearts, Warm Bodies. Itprovides fabricand textiles for clients to sew, knit or crochet homemade items.

"We heard about the Operation Scarf project happening and it was just a beautiful fit with what we already do here in the space," says O'Brien.

NISA has scheduled workshops every Wednesdayafternoon for clients to knit or crochet items. Those will then bedonated to theOperation Scarf Sudbury initiative, to includein thepackages.

Sieger says there is also a drop off box at NISA'slocation at 36 Elgin Street for anyone to donatehats, mitts and scarves. She says donationsdon't have to be homemade.

Along with a hat, a scarf and a pair of mitts, eachpackagealso containa heat pack and a special poem."Wrap this scarf to warmyour soul, may it bring you comfort in days of cold."

"Wrap this scarf to warmyour soul, may it bring you comfort in days of cold."

"I think we've all gone out without a scarf and hat and mittens. I couldn't imagine having that as a day to day battle," saysSieger.

She hopes to also set up drop off boxes at other local businesses for further donations to the campaign.

The goal of Operation Scarf Sudbury isto leave out 150 packages this winter.