AETN, Garland County Library partner to sponsor sweater drive

The Arkansas Educational Television Network and the Garland County Public Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., have partnered to sponsor a Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive as a tribute to Fred Rogers and his example of being a caring neighbor.

The drive will be held now through Nov. 30.

Members of the community are asked to donate new or gently worn sweaters and other winter apparel at the library, which will have a receptacle available. Sweaters collected in this drive will be distributed by The Salvation Army. Donations may also be dropped off at the Hot Springs Family YMCA, 130 Werner St., and at Red Light Roastery, 1003 Park Ave.

To help set the tone for a “comfortable” visit with his young viewers, Rogers put on a sweater and changed into sneakers as a way to help children settle in for “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” All of Rogers’ original sweaters were knitted by his mother, Nancy McFeely Rogers. Each year, she knitted a dozen sweaters and gave them to family and close friends at Christmas. Over the course of more than 40 years, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” PBS’ longest-running children’s series, earned four Daytime Emmys. As a testament to his legacy, Rogers received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and was recognized in 2002 with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his contributions to children’s development and education using broadcast television, a news release said.

“Last year we collected over 500 sweaters, jackets, and other winter clothing items for the Mister Rogers Neighborhood Sweater Drive,” Erin Baber, public relations coordinator, said. “With the help of the YMCA and Red Light Roastery, we’re hoping to make donating clothing as convenient as possible. Just about everyone has something in the back of their closet that they never wear or don’t need. Take advantage of the season of giving to give something vital to someone in need.”

The Garland County Public Library is one of 30 libraries across Arkansas participating in this year’s statewide Mister Rogers Neighborhood Sweater Drive. A complete list of libraries is available at http://www.aetn.org/sweaterdrive.

The Fred Rogers Company was founded by Rogers in 1971 as the nonprofit producer of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for PBS. More information is available at http://www.FredRogers.org.

Visit the library online at http://www.gclibrary.com or call the library at 623-4161 or 501-9224483 for more information.