Morristown's Fiber Fairy Is Back, Bringing Warmth To People In Need

MORRISTOWN, NJ — As the temperatures begin to drop as we approach winter, Morristown is once again littered with free scarves, hats and gloves, implying that the fiber fairy has returned and is spreading warm tidings to all.

The beloved fiber fairies have returned to adorn the Morristown Green with warm winter garments for anyone in need as winter approaches.

Three of The Morristown Fiber Fairy's four founding members were born and raised in Morristown. The group consisted of two adults, one college student, and an eighth grader in February 2014.

The Fiber Fairy was inspired by a story in the Ottawa Citizen about scarves left around Canadian hero monuments, and it wasn't long before George Washington and his fellow citizens in Morristown had their own contributions.

In a previous interview with Patch, the Fiber Fairy, who was given the name by a family member, said that they would prefer to remain nameless in order to prevent detracting from the message.

"The reason I wish to remain anonymous is because it really isn't about me," they said previously. "It's about showing others in the community that each and every one of us has the potential to make a difference in the lives of those around us."

In an effort to promote awareness of Morristown's unhoused population, the group established the Morristown Fiber Fairy in 2014. They began seeking donations of winter hats and scarves on Facebook with the idea of placing these goods on The Green's statues for those who are homeless or on the verge of poverty.

"It is so easy to separate yourself from the struggles of others and to walk past them without making eye contact or giving much thought to their suffering. But they are people, and each one comes with their own unique story," the Fiber Fairy said.

In 2018, there were concerns that the project would have to come to an end because the Morristown Fiber Fairies had relocated from Morristown to Sussex County.

However, community members suggested that the group create a signup form online and ask people to volunteer not only to provide winter hats and scarves but to place them on the statues as well.

This is how they have operated since late 2018.

To ensure that there are always options for people in need, the Fiber Fairy has had all volunteers sign up on a schedule specifying when they are free to travel to The Morristown Green and place winter hats and winter scarves on the statues.

"It usually takes a few days for all of the hats and scarves to be taken from the statues so we don't want people going too often to place them in case there are some still remaining on the statues," they explained.

According to the schedule, there are people scheduled to place fresh winter gear out every week from Nov. 4 through March 30.

"These items could help people stay just warm enough to not freeze to death or to develop frostbite on their hands," they said.

Monarch Housing Associates, a non-profit based in Cranford, recently released its 2023 Point-In-Time Count of the Homeless report, which includes data collected by county staff, government officials and local nonprofit organizations that surveyed people staying outdoors in late January.

On the night of Jan. 24, 2023, a total of 10,267 people were experiencing homelessness in the State of New Jersey, according to the 2023 point-in-time count.

The report shows that Morris County had a total of 465 people experiencing homelessness as of January, which represents four percent of the state's unhoused population. In Morristown, 226 people were counted, which is about 48 percent of the county's overall total.