12/22/2022
Local charities distributing warm clothing to those in need as much colder weather enters the state
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas PBS) – Arkansas PBS and 47 libraries across the state have collected more than 2,500 sweaters in the 2022 Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive held Nov. 5-30 as a tribute to Fred Rogers and his example of being a caring neighbor. Items collected in this drive are now being distributed by various local charities as frigid temperatures are forecast to enter the state this week.
During the Neighborhood Sweater Drive, members of the community donated new or gently worn sweaters, as well as other cold-weather clothing, at participating libraries, the Arkansas PBS headquarters in Conway and the First Friends Preschool in Rogers. Participating libraries were encouraged to choose recipient organizations for the items they collected. The 20 organizations chosen for distribution include the Salvation Army, the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, public schools, senior centers and nursing homes, and many more.
Anyone in need of sweaters can contact the following libraries to learn more about distribution:
- Pea Ridge Community Library.
- Newton County Library in Jasper.
- Donald W. Reynolds Library serving Baxter County in Mountain Home.
- Logan County Library in Booneville.
- Charleston Public Library.
- Franklin County Library in Ozark.
- Boyd T. & Mollie Gattis Logan County Library in Paris.
- Fayetteville Public Library.
- Pope County Library in Russellville.
- Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library.
- Forrest City Public Library.
- Independence County Library in Batesville.
- Lonoke Public Library.
- Carlisle Public Library.
- Cabot Public Library.
- Faulkner/Van Buren Regional Library in Conway.
- Grant County Library in Sheridan.
- Central Arkansas Library System Main Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Adolphine F. Terry Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Dee Brown Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Esther Nixon Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Hillary Rodham Clinton Children's Library & Learning Center in Little Rock.
- CALS John Gould Fletcher Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Oley E. Rooker Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Roosevelt Thompson Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Sidney Sanders McMath Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Sue Cowan Williams Branch Library in Little Rock.
- CALS Maumelle Branch Library.
- CALS Max Milam Library in Perryville.
- CALS Amy Sanders Branch Library in Sherwood.
- CALS Millie Brooks Library in Wrightsville.
- Calhoun County Library in Hampton.
- Sevier County Library in DeQueen.
- Lafayette County Library in Lewisville.
- Cabe Memorial Public Library in Stamps.
- Barton Library in El Dorado.
- Huttig Branch Library.
- Harper Memorial Library in Junction City.
- Norphlet Branch Library.
- Smackover Public Library.
- Strong Branch Library.
- Monticello Branch Library.
- Warren Branch Library.
- Saline County Library in Benton.
- St. Paul Public Library.
- Mountainburg Public Library.
- Alma Public Library.
“All of us, at some time or other, need help,” Fred Rogers said. “And, whether we’re giving or receiving a sweater, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world.
“That’s one of the things that connects us as neighbors – in our way, everyone is a giver and receiver.”
The statewide Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive was sponsored by Crain Buick GMC of Conway and 911 Restoration. Additional information is available at myarpbs.org/sweaterdrive.
To help set the tone for a “comfortable” visit with his young viewers, Rogers put on a sweater and changed into sneakers 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.
For more than 40 years, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” PBS’s 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.
The Fred Rogers Company was founded by Rogers in 1971 as the nonprofit producer of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” for PBS. In the years that followed, it not only created hundreds of episodes, but it also extended Rogers’ values and approach to other efforts in promoting children’s social, emotional and behavioral health and supporting parents, caregivers, teachers and other professionals in their work with children. The Fred Rogers Company continues to build on his legacy through a wide variety of media and by engaging new generations of children and families with his timeless wisdom. Additional information is available at FredRogers.org.
About Arkansas PBS
Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans by creating, sharing, celebrating and driving conversation around Arkansas stories and classic, trusted PBS programs through multiple digital platforms, including livestreaming at myarpbs.org/watch, on-demand services and YouTube TV, and the distinct channels Arkansas PBS, Arkansas PBS Create, Arkansas PBS KIDS, Arkansas PBS WORLD and Arkansas PBS AIRS on SAP. Members with Arkansas PBS Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. Arkansas PBS depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at myarkansaspbs.org. Arkansas PBS is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Lee Mountain), KETS (Forrest City) and KETS (Gaither).
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