"EVERYONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE."

 

One Warm Scarf was founded by Meryl Russo in 2017 with a simple belief: everyone can make a difference in the life of another person.

 

Our mission is to bring warmth, comfort and dignity to adults experiencing homelessness.

 

We provide:

• Handmade scarves

• New socks and undergarments

• New and gently-used clothing.

 

One Warm Scarf would not be possible without the generosity of our dedicated volunteers, donors and community partners.

 

OUR JOURNEY

 

2017 — One Warm Scarf Begins

 

Meryl Russo founded One Warm Scarf with the goal of providing warmth, comfort and dignity to people experiencing homelessness.

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2022 — Expanding Our Mission

 

One Warm Scarf expanded to include new men's and women's socks, T-shirts and underwear—essential items that, unlike coats and other clothing, cannot typically be donated secondhand.

 

2025 — The Warm Clothing Drive

 

One Warm Scarf expanded to include new and gently-used men's and women's winter clothing and accessories.

 

Today — A Growing Community Effort

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What began as a simple idea has grown into a community-wide effort supported by generous volunteers, donors, and partners. Organizations One Warm Scarf has supported include Allentown Rescue Mission, Saint John's Hospice, and Bethesda Project homeless shelters, Philly Place, Broad Street Love, and Project HOME.

 

One Warm Scarf delivers items from September through April; however, we gratefully accept contributions throughout the year.

 

MEET OUR FOUNDER

 

Meryl Russo was born and raised in Queens, New York, and has called Bucks County, Pennsylvania home since 2002.

 

Her community work began in 2006, when she partnered with local fitness centers to organize coat and clothing drives. That passion for service to others continued to grow through a variety of volunteer efforts.

 

• Served meals to individuals experiencing food insecurity at Manna on Main in Lansdale.

• Volunteered with Wrapping Presence, helping residents of assisted living communities share holiday gifts with their loved ones.

• Coordinated food drives benefiting organizations such as Philabundance.

• Worked alongside the director of Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) at Wesley Enhanced Living in Bucks County, supporting creative engagement for residents living with dementia.

• Volunteered with Vita Education Services, teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners. 

 

Meryl believes that even the smallest act of kindness—a handmade scarf, a warm meal or a pair of new socks—can remind someone that they are seen, valued and not forgotten.

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​Meryl and her husband, Anthony, have been happily married for close to 30 years. When they're not volunteering or working on One Warm Scarf, they enjoy exploring lakeside bed-and-breakfasts and discovering the quiet beauty of small-town destinations.

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One Warm Scarf is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Arvin Belostock, a gentle and caring man whose kindness touched the hearts of those who knew him. Although he did not have the opportunity to be part of this mission during his lifetime, his compassion continues to inspire it every day. Now free from sorrow and heartache, his spirit lives on in every act of kindness, every scarf shared, and every person reached with love, warmth, and support. May this work honor his memory and carry forward the goodness he brought into the world.

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"Anyone can be great - because anybody can serve." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.