Red Scarf Project returns for second year
After successful debut, AIDS Committee shooting for 1,000 scarves for region's homeless
The team at the AIDS Committee of Durham Region is once again preparing for its Red Scarf Project on Dec. 1, which aims to provide scarves to those in need. Last year marked the first time the event was held in Durham Region, with the committee receiving 480 scarves – well anove the goal of 150.
By Graeme McNaughton/The Oshawa Express
On Thursday, Dec. 1, you may see some trees that look a little chilly – they’ll be wearing scarves after all.
Sprinkled across the downtown core of Oshawa will be red scarves tied to trees and posts, all of which will be part of the second edition of the AIDS Committee of Durham Region’s Red Scarf Project.
“The idea is that local street-involved, homeless people take the scarves from the trees and from the posts and…it’s the AIDS Committee of Durham Region’s way of giving back to the community that we serve,” says Sophie Allcock, the committee’s manager of resource development.
Originally started by the group’s London chapter in 2011, Allcock says the response the program got last year for its debut was much more than the committee was expecting.
“It was absolutely amazing. Last year, we launched (the project) in Durham Region, and our goal was 150 scarves, which we thought was quite a substantial goal,” she says.
“Between us and the Rotary Clubs of Whitby and Whitby-Sunrise, we set the goal of 150 scarves, and we actually received 480 scarves last year. It completely snowballed and there was a lot of community groups that got involved.”
This year, the AIDS Committee of Durham Region has set a much more ambitious goal – 1,000 scarves. And while Allcock says she isn’t sure they will make that benchmark – she says the group has collected 700 as of press time – the meaning behind the project and the work being put in is what matters.
“The majority of scarves, the cost of the wool is from people’s own pockets. We’ve got one lady that’s made 82 scarves all by herself. It’s a really nice way for people to give back to the community that they belong to,” she says.
“I would hope a lot of people are doing it for the awareness of HIV and AIDS, but equally, I think they’re doing it for the homeless and street-involved aspect. Either way, it’s just such a fantastic project.”