St. Catharines’ Mitten Tree campaign starting up tomorrow

Published December 3, 2021 at 3:30 pm

Everyone deserves to be warm in the winter and that’s the goal behind a holiday tradition worth keeping at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre.

This Saturday (December 4), the city will kick off its Annual Mitten Tree Campaign, inviting the public to come out and donate new, or gently-used winter wear such as mittens, gloves, scarves and toques.

The donated items will be used to decorate the Mitten Tree set up in the museum lobby, and ultimately will help those in need through Community Care St. Catharines and Thorold; and Start Me Up Niagara’s Out of the Cold Program. Guests can stop by the museum during open hours from December 4 to January 8 to make their donation.

As in years past the museum will kick off the campaign with a launch event offering a host of family-fun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“This is one holiday tradition we never want to miss, no one should ever go cold over winter,” said Supervisor of Historical Services and Museum Curator Kathleen Powell. “This year will be extra special for us as we return to an in-person launch, once again welcoming families in for a day of fun as we all give back.”

This Saturday, after dropping off their donations, guests can enjoy an array of family-friendly activities including a Gallery Scavenger Hunt. “Join us in a knitting themed scavenger hunt throughout our exhibit galleries. Collect and solve the clues to discover the whole story and submit your answer at the end to get a prize.”

There will also be Story Time: the Mitten Tree. “Enjoy a reading of Candace Christiansen’s book The Mitten Tree. This storybook tells the tale of a kind hearted woman who took it upon herself to make and deliver mittens for people in her community.”

An interactive one will be Craft Time: French Knitting Spool. “Kids will have the chance to create and use a cardboard French knitting spool. After the knitting spool is done kids will learn how to use it to French knit a cord. Kids can take there cords home and use them to make fun garland for Christmas trees.”

For more information on the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre visit: stcatharines.ca/Museum.

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