As students head back to school in the bitter cold next week, Wellman Telephone Cooperative Association is collecting donations of hats, gloves, and mittens for the Mid-Prairie West Elementary students.

This is the first year the cooperative is both collecting donations and in charge of the mitten tree. They are accepting physical and monetary donations. Lisa Miller Allen of Wellman Telephone Cooperative shares why they host the drive, “Obviously there is a need because the children in Wellman sometimes they will either go to school without hats and mittens, or they’ve lost them throughout the day and now it’s recess time and they need to go out. So just to keep them warm and safe, and they use them up. So it’s a need and it stays here in town.”

Allen says she appreciates the continued generosity of community members, whether it’s the 4-H club bringing in donations, or a grandmother and her grandchild each bringing in a pair of handknitted mittens. Donations for the mitten tree will be accepted until January 5, and can be dropped off at Wellman Telephone Cooperative Association during their business hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.