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Without new leadership, yearly “scarf bombings” will end

| October 24, 2024

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Oct. 24, 2024) – Next year will be the last for The Scarf Project unless someone steps up to keep it going.

Founder Toni Kaltenbaugh is still looking for an individual or organization to continue the community-wide “scarf bombings” that have been taking place one Friday each November since 2016. 

“It’s just to a point that I just kind of need to retire. I have other things going on in my life that need my attention so I can’t give my full attention to The Scarf Project like I really would like to,” she says.“Next year, I will cut off donations of yarn June 1st, and I will cut off donations of finished products after October 1st unless somebody has taken over.” 

Kaltenbaugh, who’s now 78, says she can no longer devote her full attention to the operation because of other obligations. She announced the search for her successor back in February, hoping to have someone lined up by now.

“And I hope people realize when I say next year is it, that’s it. I hope they realize that they don’t have the following year to step up to the plate. And it’s not gonna be as easy for someone to start another project. This one is already established.”

The Scarf Project has grown from 123 scarves and one location to more than 1,400 at 20 sites this year. Kaltenbaugh approached several local churches taking the reins with no luck so far. 

“I have contacted a couple of them, and what I’m finding is they already have their mission projects delegated, so it’s just a matter of finding someone that doesn’t have everybody stretched out.”

Whoever takes over will need a place to accept and store donations between distributions and transportation to deliver yarn to volunteer knitters. For more information or the questionnaire, email ScarfProject@outlook.com. 

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