A Wexford County woman is using her talents and the generous donations of others to make sure that people stay warm this winter.
CADILLAC -- She's known as "The Scarf Lady" and for Donna Sikes of Cadillac there's reason behind her name.
"I would give them to children at the elementary schools or if there's a kid walking down the road in the winter and I'd say, 'You kids cold?' and they'd go, 'Yeah!' and come over and get the scarves and it blossomed from there," says Sikes.
For the past six years, Sikes has been knitting her own scarves, in fact about 700 just this year alone. It's the scarves along with thousands of other donated hand made scarves, hats and gloves that serve a special purpose.
"I knit them special for the homeless, we put them in the police cars here in Cadillac, the sheriff, fire engine trucks," says Sikes.
For Sikes, she says it's become a personal ministry for her, one that's helping to keep people warm.
"It's great, especially the little kids they go, 'I want pink or I want blue!' It's wonderful, it's good to help people. It does everybody good to help," says Sikes.
Although she's the face behind the scarf-giving, she credits the individuals who help make it possible one scarf at a time.
"I think the heroes are those women, they come to my door and say we want to knit for you. Those are my heroes. Those are the heroes. It's a wonderful feeling to get that many people call up and say, 'I want to help or here I want to donate some yarn,' " says Sikes.
Behind the scarves is a message that Sikes wants to send out.
"It makes me feel good, it draws people together. It pulls people together that have a desire to help people," says Sikes.
Donna Sikes plans to continue passing out scarves, hats and gloves around northern Michigan next year. If you would like more information about donating yarn or scarves you can contact Donna at: (231) 779-1050.
