Willow Road Elementary School Collects more than 170 Pairs of Mittens to Donate through Annual Mitten Tree Dive

Willow Road Elementary School, part of Valley Stream UFSD 13, recently hosted its annual Mitten Tree Drive in conjunction with the yearly reading of “The Mitten Tree.” Students at Willow Road were asked to emulate the kindness of a fictional character Sarah and donate a pair of mittens, or gloves, for fellow children in the Valley Stream community that need warm clothing this winter. More than 175 mittens were collected throughout the month of December and were displayed in the main lobby of the elementary school. The mittens were donated to Holy Name of Mary Church in Valley Stream, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne and St. Catherine’s Church in Franklin Square to help families in need.

The fictional tale, written by Candace Christiansen, is about a caring, kind-hearted woman named Sarah who knits mittens for children in need. Sarah then places the hand-knitted mitten on tree branches next to a school bus stop for less fortunate children to receive.

The annual tradition is part of the District’s ongoing mission to teach students about the value of charitable giving and being involved in community service efforts. It also gives students an opportunity to bring literature to life by reenacting the emotions and actions of characters in their favorite stories.