Winter Warmth Project. Photo Provided.
The Winter Warmth Project is underway for another year in the Dryden area.
Gerry Powell is a retired teacher in Dryden and this marks her fifth year providing local schools with mittens and winter gear.
Powell says while all winter items are accepted, very few mittens were left over from last year so the need is urgent.
“I’ve been contacted by a few schools and so far, I’ve dropped off about 50 pairs of mitts in Vermilion Bay to Lillian Berg School. I’m just getting organized but I don’t have a lot of mitts in stock to distribute at the moment but I’m hoping the community steps up like they always do to provide mitts.”
Some of the schools Powell has delivered mitts to in the past include Open Roads, New Prospect, Migisi School, Wabigoon, St. Joseph’s and more.
Powell also partners with Orange Ambulance.
“If I get very small toques, baby sized stuff I pass that along to them. I’ve given them about 100 hats so far and these are distributed throughout Ontario, they usually go to the far north but all areas. It kind of just does our hearts good, as a small community, we’re helping a lot of people.”
Powell adds, “I couldn’t do this without the generous commitment of people in our community, it’s just truly humbling, so from the bottom of my heart to all who have contributed in the past thank you and I hope to encourage you to continue to contribute. I also have the staff at the Dryden Public Library and Joanna Minder at Sew Many Things helping me collect and package mitts, so huge thank you to their efforts as well.”
Handmade or newly purchased pairs of mitts can be dropped off at the Dryden Public Library or Sew Many Things.
