Operation Warm Hearts
Having enough warm hats, scarves and mittens/gloves to go around during the cold winter months is an on-going challenge at Bell as so many people come in and out of our doors. We are always grateful for groups and individuals who turn their artful skills of knitting and crochet into useful goods for us to share with Bell service users to help them brave the elements.
Emily Gochenour of Operation Warm Hearts is among those who have showed up this winter to provide hats. Emily started Operation Warm Hearts as a student at Messiah College and has since incorporated as a non-profit organization “to nurture the spirit with caring and kindness and provide warmth through clothing to our local community.”
Engaging friends, family, and community organizations to pitch in, Emily will even teach people how to knit so they can participate in her good-hearted effort.
Operation Warm Hearts provides donations of hats and scarves to two organizations each in Dauphin, Cumberland and York Counties, which now includes Bell. The first donation included dozens of hats, which we are distributing through our Next Door program which serves homeless and near-homeless individuals and families.
Pictured is Emily Gochenaur (second from left) with two Operation Warm Hearts volunteers, and Averie Clark, Director of Community Engagement for Bell.