Community support keeps 112 County kids warmer this year

The OPP Keep Kids Warm program will provide jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens to 112 children in Prince Edward County this year. Pick up begins Monday and continues through Wednesday at the OPP Station on Scoharie Road from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Cheering community support of the campaign as they readied the bags of warmth, from left, were: volunteers Fern Gray and Tara Guscott, the detachment’s new community officer, Const. Aaron Miller, program organizer Barb Sills, supporter Jamie Yeo, and detachment commander John Hatch.

As the temperature turns to single digits this week, more than 100 Prince Edward County children will be warmer thanks to community support for the OPP Keep Kids Warm campaign.

“We have outfitted 112 children this year – way up over last year,” said Barb Sill, one of the organizers for the County portion of the program, which also includes police helping youth in Belleville, Stirling, Madoc and Marmora areas. Throughout, about 1,100 children will benefit from this year’s campaign.

Sills was pleased Keep Kids Warm paper mitten donations raised more than $2,300 this year – mainly from a drive at Sobey’s in Picton, where owner Jamie Yeo notes a friendly competition among cash register staff brought in $1,739 in donations.

“We also cannot thank local knitters enough,” added Sills, noting well over 400 hats and mittens were donated by the knitters with the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary craft group, as well as several local resident knitters who donate many pairs each year.

Sills also thanks volunteers who register families, shop for jackets, snow pants and boots, put together the packages for each child, and help distribute them.

Pickups are set for Nov. 4 to 6 at the PEC OPP station, County Road 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.