Ohio Volunteer Turns Kindness Into Winter Relief

A Life Still Focused on Giving
In her 80s and showing no signs of slowing down, Carol Bovee is proof that purpose doesn’t retire. A familiar face at the reception desk of the Warren Scope Center in Warren, Ohio, Bovee answers phones by day — and spends her spare time thinking about how to help people who are struggling to stay warm, fed and cared for during winter’s harshest months.

Turning Simple Ideas Into Real Impact
Bovee’s approach is practical and deeply human. One of her earliest projects involved crafting weather-resistant mats from recycled grocery bags — a simple but effective way to help people experiencing homelessness stay dry and insulated from the cold ground. From there, the ideas kept coming: blankets, food collection efforts and now, hand-knitted hats.

Warmth Made by Hand
Her latest project focuses on creating knitted hats for children, parents and anyone living without stable housing. Each hat is handmade with the same care you’d expect for a family member, offering not just warmth, but dignity. For Bovee, the motivation is straightforward: if she has the ability to help, she believes she should.

Inspiring Those Around Her
Those who work alongside Bovee say her energy and generosity are contagious. Fellow volunteers and staff describe her as someone who sees a need and immediately begins figuring out how to meet it — often rallying others to join in. Her manager and colleagues say the community would be transformed if there were “ten more Carols.”

A Simple Philosophy With Lasting Meaning
Bovee doesn’t see her work as extraordinary. She sees it as gratitude in action. Having lived a good life, she believes the most meaningful thing she can do now is give back — one hat, one blanket, one idea at a time. In doing so, she’s reminding her community that heroism doesn’t always wear a uniform — sometimes it carries knitting needles.