Strangers 'scarf bomb' city amid freezing temperatures

For the last 10 years, Suzanne Volpe has embraced a "scarf bombing" project that she now calls her passion.

Volpe first heard about "scarf bombing," the act of bombarding a public space with scarves for those in need during the cold winter months, back in 2014.

"I saw a Facebook post. One of my friends tagged me and said, 'Hey, look, somebody's doing this.' And they were putting scarves on trees," the Pittsburgh resident told "Good Morning America." "I have a friend in Connecticut who jumped on it and did it and called it a scarf bomb and I said, 'Oh, somebody should do that here.' She said, 'Well, you're somebody.' I was like, 'Well, yeah, I guess I am.' And that's how it started."

The 71-year-old retiree, who has been crocheting for the last five decades, said she was so inspired by the idea that she started making scarves herself and "scarf bombed" areas around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she previously lived.

"I've always liked to crochet, and when you crochet or knit, at some point, all your friends have Afghans and scarves and you run out of people to give things to," she said. "So I enjoy every bit of it. I enjoy crocheting. I enjoy getting together with people to make things, and I love, love, love putting them out, especially when you see the reaction of some people. They're so appreciative."

Volpe launched the Scarf Bombardiers Facebook group in 2015 and started encouraging others to get on board.

"We collect scarves all year round and then we put tags on them so people know to take them," Volpe explained. "[The tags] tell people, 'If you're cold, take this.' And then we try and pick areas where there's a lot of foot traffic and where there might be need and we just go and tie them on the fences or poles or whatever seems appropriate. Bus shelters are really good too."

Today, Volpe and a team of volunteer members make, collect and drop off anywhere from 25 to 50 scarves per outing, usually during sunny days and in at least a dozen spots -- from playgrounds and schools to bus shelters and churches -- around Pittsburgh.

The Bombardiers have also grown in number and given rise to more local groups.

"We do it all over the city of Pittsburgh and the suburbs," Volpe said. "As a result, I've had other groups form because of some of the [media] coverage we've had. I have one in Blairsville ... Kittanning [and] the Harrisburg one is still going strong."

Volpe estimates she makes around 400 crocheted scarves each winter, as well as countless fleece scarves. The Bombardiers also receive many more scarf donations from people across the country.

"All you have to do with fleece is you cut the fleece and then you just put fringes on the edges. It doesn't need to be sewed. It doesn't really unravel or anything. It's ridiculously easy. Anyone can do it," she said.

Volpe said she plans on continuing the scarf bombing for the foreseeable future and "absolutely" recommends scarf bombing to anyone else who may be interested, including young people like the local Girl Scout troop that joined Scarf Bombardiers.

"The other thing that's kind of nice is I have different volunteers. Some people just make. Some people can't make so they go out and put them out. So there's something for everybody. I think everybody can contribute something," Volpe said.

"I'm sure we're not done with winter yet," she added.