PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Billy Fournier chooses a few items at “Chase the Chill Lynn” outside My Brother’s Table.
By LEAH DEARBORN
LYNN — Winter doesn’t officially begin until Dec. 21, but volunteers for Chase the Chill Lynn have been thinking about the cold for months.
A crowd of volunteers gathered near My Brother’s Table Saturday to “yarn bomb” the area, leaving scarves, gloves, hats and other garments behind for passersby to take.
“This is a yearlong effort,” said Michelle Suttle, chapter co-founder and Swampscott resident. “We had ladies who were knitting at the beach in summer.”
The event began with Suttle and fellow co-founder Kecia Rideout, two longtime friends from the area. A few years ago, Rideout came across a newspaper article about the original Chase the Chill chapter in Easton, Pa.
“I immediately thought of this corner,” said Rideout, who initially believed it would only be herself and a few friends out hanging scarves last year. “It just really spiraled.”
Through word of mouth and social media, the chapter quickly drew others in the community and has grown in size since its first year. Suttle said more than 1,000 items were donated in 2016.
Some volunteers bought their donations while others, including Donna Lucier, made them from scratch. Lucier said she crocheted more than 40 scarves to donate, making them in her spare time.
Michelle Trottier came to volunteer for the event with several other members of a group from Middleton.
“We’re just trying to bring a little positivity to life,” said Trottier.
While the scarves were set up near a homeless shelter and a soup kitchen, Rideout emphasized they were intended for anyone wanted or needed them.
“We have three kids and money is tight right now,” said Sam Sullivan, who came to pick up a few articles of clothing. “There’s not going to be a lot of presents for Christmas this year. It’s a big help for the kids.”
Interested parties can still donate gently used articles of clothing to Chase the Chill. Suttle said the chapter is planning to do a number of mini yarn bombings throughout the winter when temperatures drop.
Leah Dearborn can be reached at: [email protected].