Wraps community in warmth and love

What started as a grassroots effort to keep children in Sunny View warm during the winter has grown over the past three years to help the entire community.

Warming the View started in 2014 by Dee O’Brien and Lisa Moser as a fundraiser to distribute coats and blankets in the Sunny View community, particularly at Sunny View Elementary School.

O’Brien and Moser have teamed up once again this year with several businesses to warm the community.

Warming the View will begin accepting gently used/new coats and blankets beginning on Nov. 6 at the following locations: McGuinn’s Store, Larkin’s Carolina Grill, Tim Edward’s Landscaping and Parker-Binns Vineyard and Winery.

This year the community distribution will be on Dec. 9 at McGuinn’s Store in Sunny View and Dec. 16 at Tim Edward’s Landscaping in Mill Spring.

Sponsors this year are the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Burrell’s Fuel, Parker-Binns Vineyard and Winery and Pure Country Weavers.

Last year Warming the View provided 110 new coats to elementary students and over the past three years have provided over 400 gently used coats to the community.

Last year, there were also 100 brand new blankets distributed throughout the community donated by Pure Country Weavers.

“We are very humbled by the generosity from everyone over the years,” O’Brien and Moser said. “Our message is simple; community helping community. We are truly overwhelmed by the love and support from our neighbors and community at large.” •