‘Mitts for Kids’ deadline nearing

The local “Mitts for Kids—Helping Hands” campaign is wrapping up this week, with the deadline to donate hats, mitts, and scarves for children, as well as cash to buy more mitts, set for Wednesday (Dec. 13).
“Mitts for Kids” co-ordinator Melissa Gushulak said Friday that some donations have come in so far, but she’d like to see more in the next couple of days since she doesn’t yet know how many mitts will be required for the Salvation Army Christmas hampers this year.
“It’s going well. As long as we have enough mitts to cover the Salvation Army hampers, that’s our goal,” Gushulak remarked.
“Whatever extra we get, we’ll find a way to spread them around the community,” she added.
Gushulak said two especially notable donations were a batch of 46 pairs of mittens from a Rose Manor resident, as well as a whole bag of mitts from an 88-year-old Thunder Bay woman.
As in previous years, the public can donate new hand-made or store-bought mitts, winter hats, and scarves to “Mitts for Kids,” which, in turn, will give them to the local Salvation Army for its Christmas hampers.
Gushulak has to have all the mitts—donated or purchased—in to the Salvation Army here by this Friday (Dec. 15).
This year’s donation drop-off point is Gushulak’s home (128 Third St. W.) Anyone wanting to donate mitts should give her a call first (274-5206) and then either drop by with donations or arrange for her to pick them up.
While cash donation boxes were distributed to local businesses last month to collect money for mitts, these were collected over the weekend. Cash donations now can be given directly to Gushulak.
She has put an order in for $200 worth of mitts with the Zellers store in Kenora, which “Mitts for Kids” once again has struck a deal with to supply mitts at a discount.
To address some confusion among the public, Gushulak clarified that “Mitts for Kids” is a non-profit organization, run solely by her, and not at all affiliated with the Salvation Army.
“It’s totally separate,” she stressed. “The Salvation Army is who we’ve chosen to donate our mitts to. We chose them because I don’t think there’s any other cause in the district that would need that many mitts.
“And it’s a perfect time of the year to give out those mitts.”
“Mitts for Kids” is a tradition first started here by Jan Hall-Bosma in 2000, and has continued this holiday season with Gushulak at the helm for a second year.
Gushulak has been assisted by 2006 Fun in the Sun Queen Alyssa Holliday, First Princess Liz Black, and Second Princess Shanna Ewald.