One Good Deed volunteers ‘scarf bomb’ Twin Cities parks for homeless people

A local organization received a record number of winter weather donations for its annual “scarf-bombing” event to help homeless people.

Volunteers with One Good Deed headed out Sunday to decorate Minneapolis’ Loring Park and St. Paul’s Kellogg Park with hats, gloves, scarves and boots.

“We’re setting these items out on the benches, the railings and on the fountain here,” said volunteer Jeff Penick.

They call it “scarf bombing” – an explosion of winter gear covering parks in the Twin Cities for people in need.

“I feel very blessed in my life, and I want to do what I can for people that are less fortunate than me,” Penick said.

For the last three years, Penick has dedicated his January Sunday afternoon to give back with the organization.

About 70 volunteers of all ages participated in the event, and they got to see the impact in real time.

“This gentleman was very grateful, and he expressed that to us. He went about his day with a bag of things he can use,” Penick said.

The organization became a nonprofit a few months ago and received a record number of donations this year.

“Every single month, we do one good deed, and this is the beginning of where it started five years ago – ‘scarf-bombing’ the parks,” said Michelle Christensen, founder of One Good Deed.

People donated 336 bags of hats, scarves, boots and coats for 2023’s event, which is over 100 more bags than last year.

One Good Deed also received $20,000 in financial donations to keep spreading kindness.

“Fantastic, just so much generosity all across the board from so many partners,” Christensen said.

Christensen added one act of kindness can have a big impact.

“It’s great. We’re all happy to do something for people who are less fortunate,” Penick said.