Heart in Hand: Local group’s act of kindness warms hearts, bodies

Known as the City of Hospitality, the people of Xenia are living up to their hometown’s name.

As thermostats dropped this week with the season’s first blast of winter-like cold air, commuters through the downtown area couldn't have missed the unusual site: Hand-knitted scarves wrapped around trees and poles along Detroit, Main and other downtown streets.

Each colorful scarf contained a note: “I’m not lost. I've been placed here for you to find. Please take me to keep you warm.”

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The act of kindness is the work of about a dozen women who are part of Heart in Hand II, a chapter of the national nonprofit Crochet for Cancer.

The group meets twice a month at the Xenia Community Center. The organization has been around for nearly a decade. Members have made thousands of scarves, hats, blankets and bags over the years for those who need them.

Chairwoman Sandra Fadeley said they’ve “grown immensely” this year, but are always looking for more volunteers and donations.

“You see them walking around Xenia and they're so cold,” Fadeley said. “We just wanted to warm them up this winter season,” Fadeley said.

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Resident Ashley Flannery was one of the first to benefit from their generosity.

“It’s like a hug keeping me warm,” she said. “Soon as I saw it, I wanted to take a picture. It’s really sweet. I was walking down the street and I was really cold ... There’s good people trying to help other people.”

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Heart in Hand II accepts gift cards to craft stores to buy yarn. To volunteer or for more information, visit the group's Facebook page here.

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