STEP Head Start Collecting Mittens
Mitten Tree Project Marks 10 Years of Giving
LOCK HAVEN – Warm, colorful mittens will be distributed this winter to children in STEP, Inc.’s Head Start program thanks to the generosity of many. This is the tenth year for the Mitten Tree Project, first organized by STEP in 2005 for Head Start children in Clinton and Lycoming counties.
“Everybody needs warm hands,” says Donna Flick, Head Start enrollment specialist and coordinator for the annual initiative. “Now-retired Head Start Director Anne Doerr started our Mitten Tree Project; it was something very close to her heart. We’ve continued to collect mittens, as well as hats, scarves and this year even sneakers, because there continues to be a need. We have children who come to school without gloves or a hat – that’s something we’re striving to change.”
Flick says about 700 pairs of mittens are needed so that no child is missed. People can donate mittens by dropping them off at the STEP Clinton County Community Center at 124 East Walnut Street, Lock Haven and at the Head Start office at 2138 Boyd Street in Williamsport. The collection will run through the holidays until the end of December, after which Head Start team members will prepare boxes of mittens to be sent in early January to the 44 Head Start classrooms in Clinton and Lycoming counties. Each Head Start student will receive a pair of mittens to take home.
“Our Head Start participants are children up to age five, but we’ll accept all sizes of mittens or gloves,” says Flick. “If we get adult gloves, we’ll give those to parents or older siblings who need a pair of gloves. Everything we receive will be put to good use.”
Flick adds that donated mittens, hats, and scarves can be store-bought, but many received are handmade.
“We reach out to the community for this project, and people are very generous,” says Flick. “Our biggest contributor is a group of Williamsport-based volunteers called Knitters for Neighbors. These ladies really put a lot of thought into their mitten designs and they make them fun for the kids. This year, they knitted and donated 300 pair of mittens for our Mitten Tree Project.”
Lana France of Williamsport, one of the seven women who make up the Knitters for Neighbors group, recently delivered the hand-crafted mittens to the STEP Head Start office in Williamsport.
“We love knitting and it’s a wonderful way to give to the community,” said France, noting that the knitting group has contributed to the Head Start Mitten Tree Project since its inception 10 years ago. In fact, to date, they’ve knitted and donated 2,430 pairs of mittens to the cause!
Flick says the Knitters for Neighbors donation really jump-starts the Mitten Tree Project.
“When the Knitters drop off their donation, we decorate our office with the mittens; we put them on the holiday tree and string them through the office area like garland.”
“As big of an impact this project represents to the Head Start children and families, I think it has an even bigger impact on our staff. They look forward to this project each year and they really enjoy being part of something that helps the children. It’s just a wonderful project all the way around.”
For more information on the Head Start Mitten Tree Project, contact Donna Flick at 570-601-9623.
STEP, Inc. is one of 1,100 Community Action Agencies nationwide, and a member of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. Formally known as the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc., the agency is celebrating its 48th year of service to the community. The mission of STEP, Inc. is to engage diverse individuals, families and communities in the pursuit of social and economic success. STEP, Inc.’s mission is accomplished through five Pathways to Success, including: Early Learning, Housing Options, Workforce Development, Community Collaboration, and Independent Living.
