“At first my goal was 30. Then it was 50. Now it's 100."

Eau Claire native Dulcie Fleming explained.

"I turn 50 this year and it's the first time I've hit a new years resolution!"

Dulcie explained her 2019 resolution as we sat in a coffee shop. Dulcie was in my family before I was - my mom's best friend, so an honorary aunt, if you will. She had reached out the day before asking we meet up for coffee, mentioning she needed my advice. What started as just another New Years resolution turned into a reminder of how much we really are all connected, how much one person's act of kindness can affect another.

Dulcie continued to explain that last January she told herself she'd knit/crochet scarves for a local food pantry. She wasn't a stranger to the pantry, as her family would visit when times were tough, when ends weren't meeting. Grateful, she started of thinking of ways to give back, but acknowledged her lack of financial resources, living on supplemental income -- but what she did have was time! She decided to make 30 scarves for those in need by the end of 2019. Dulcie soon surpassed the original goal, though, averaging one scarf every 3.5 days.

"Whenever I was still, I would knit." Dulcie chuckled, "I knit in the grocery store check out line!"

She realized she could set her bar higher.

Dulcie posted on Facebook Marketplace explaining she was collecting unused yarn for a good cause. Those who answered Dulcie's call to donate, typically just met up with her somewhere in town to hand off their spare yarn. One woman even invited her to her thrift sale where she told Dulcie she could grab as much yarn that would fit in a garbage size bag for just $5. But there was one woman in particular who didn't want to meet up, insisting she mail Dulcie her donation. Dulcie said she remembered initially thinking that her response was a bit odd, but gladly accepted.

The package arrived sometime soon after. As Dulcie began to describe her memory of opening it, the tone in her voice became somber. A handful of yarn skeins and a post card that read, "...Enclosed is some yarn my 10 year old daughter had. She loved learning to knit. I really have no idea if this is the right yarn for your project. Enclosed is $25 for Michael's and I'm hoping you will pick some yarn for your project. I hope you don't mind, I enclosed a photo of Autumn. She died in November doing something to help others. I'm just looking for small ways to honor her. Think of her while you knit and put a little of her love into it."

Dulcie hesitated, her eyes began to well up, and revealed, "...It was a Girl Scout."

Suddenly the coffee shop we were sitting in felt smaller.

Of course, anyone from around here would know immediately who she was referring to. As in one of the three area Girl Scouts who were tragically killed last November in a hit-and-run while they were giving back to their community, picking up litter along a county road.

"To lose your child," Dulcie explained clearly moved by the mother's donation, "then to give away a little piece of what you have that remains of them...I didn't want to let her [the mom] down."

Since she received that special package, Dulcie has knit 93 scarves - adults' and kids' sizes, some accented with pom-poms, and a plethora of intricate designs and beautiful yarn shades - just seven scarfs shy of her 100-scarf goal, and a bag-full of hats and warm headbands.

"I couldn't believe she gave me a piece of her daughter's spirit ...,"Dulcie said. "When I realized that the donation was from her, I collapsed right to my knees and cried. I think it's really something that a parent who lost a child can turn around and take something that was precious to her and give it away to someone she doesn't know and tell her to do something in her daughter's honor with it. I knit her spirit in every scarf I made."

This year's load will go to Trinity Lutheran Church's pantry - where Dulcie was initially inspired to give back. She plans to hit her 100-scarf goal by the end of December and was so inspired by this mother's donation, that she decided to repeat this project next year as well. She had hoped I would know of ways to help spread the word.`

"...I hope that what I did inspires other people to do good as well," Dulcie said. "It doesn't take much to do a good deed. It can be as small as making a small donation to a food pantry, volunteering at an animal shelter, or even just knitting hats and scarves. There is something out there that all of us can do that will make someone else's life easier and better."

Even when you feel you have little to give, the simple act of giving, that simple act of kindness, reminds us were all connected and can help someone get through the day's challenges. If you have unused yarn, if you want to see it help keep someone in need warm this winter, donate it and drop it off at iHeartMedia in Eau Claire at 619 Cameron St. sometime Monday-Friday, between 8 am - 4:30 pm all December long.

Tuesday, 3:15 pm: Text from Mr. Hannah, “You’re going to really like your gift.”

Me: “You’re oddly confident...”

6 pm: Mr. Hannah arrives home with friend Adam in tow.

Me: *begins to probe for present clues*

Mr. Hannah: “You’re going to love your gift. And Adam and I came to the conclusion that, yes, it is second hand.”

(My family is doing a Second-hand/Thriftmas Christmas this year where gifts have to be from a thrift stores, antique store- etc..the rule is that they have to have had a previous owner.)

Mr. Hannah: “I’m just excited to give it to you- excited to see your reaction, to see your face.”

*cue minor suspicion*

Me: more questions...

“Can I eat it?”

“No”

“Can I wear it?”

“Yes.” *suspicion increases*

7 pm - Mr. Hannah and Adam leave to play darts at a bar.

*overthinking my suspicion.* *What if it’s not THAT? I’m reading too into it...*

*overthinking more
When they got to the house, they acted like it was a big item. They told me I had to hide for them to bring it in. But they didn’t actually follow through and make me hide. ...What if that was just to throw me off?....*

1:21 am - Mr. Hannah and Adam stumble in from the bar. Naturally, I resume probing about my gift. Mr. Hannah heads for the bathroom.

*Me: sees opportunity. Turns to Adam.*

“So, any hints?”

Adam, slightly sloppy: “What?! No! I’m just going to say, I’m really happy to be apart of it.”

*palms sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy*

*lays it on thick*

“What color is it?”

Adam- “red”

*sound of vinyl skipping*

*Huh. Wasn’t expecting that. Overthinks: ...red?? ...I mean in my love for random facts, I’ve nonchalantly mentioned to Mr. Hannah before that sapphires are more rare than diamonds. ...wait, Sapphires are red...but was THAT a clue to throw me off?
There’s no way. He doesn’t even know my size.*

*bathroom door finally opens*

Me: “Jeepers, you guys were drinking like you were celebrating.”

Adam: “We kinda were.”

Me: ... ... ...
*oh, sh&t. Starts looking at manicures on Pinterest.*