As the holiday season lurks around the corner and the temperatures are dropping, churches and charity groups across the United States are tying scarves to trees for the homeless in a project called “Scarves Across the Cities”. Along with a warm scarf, members of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority attach kind notes to the trees.

“If you are down on your luck and find this gift in a tree, know that it is given with love and completely free,” reads one of the 40 notes tied to scarves in Shelby, North Carolina.

Many people are even taking inspiration from this project through Instagram, Twitter and

Facebook, as it becomes a viral topic in the media.

When Shelly Griffen-Diddens saw this project on Facebook, she decided do it with her

granddaughter Emma Chamberlin in her own community. According to Journal Standard, they tied dozens of scarves to trees in downtown Freeport, Illinois.

“I’m sure there’s a need for it in Freeport,” Griffen-Diddens said. “I’ve always wanted to do something to help and I never knew what it would be.”

One act of kindness at a time, the 1.49 million homeless people across the United States

are staying warm during the frigid holiday season.