The Mitten Tree for Warm Hands, Warm Hearts is once again up at Miller’s Home Furnishing, 120 N. Prospect St.

Sponsored by the Merrill Westside Merchants and Wally Smith, owner of Miller’s, the tree is in its 28th year of gathering new hats, mittens, socks and scarves – either knit, crocheted or store bought – for needy children in the Merrill and Gleason area and students in the Head Start Program. The tree, which stands inside the furniture store, was donated by Nancy Priebe of Spring Hill Evergreens. Posters helping publicize the effort were donated by Girl Scout Cadet Troop 7074 from Prairie River Middle School.

Sandy Hull, coordinator for the Mitten Tree, said the effort has been well supported through the years and hopes the generous donations that were made before the tree was even up marks the start of another successful drive.

"Thank you to the community for making this project a success year after year," Hull said. "This means so much to the children whose heads, hands and feet won’t be left out in the cold."

For more information on the tree or to schedule a donation, contact Hull at 536-9131.

Members of Girl Scout Cadet Troop No. 7074 from Prairie River Middle School pose in front of the Mitten Tree in Miller’s Home Furnishing with the posters they made: Front row, left to right: Karry Kundrinwicz, Annie Stewart, Katie Hoffman, Kailey Schreiber and Kathy David. Back row: Cianna Frick, Faith David, Meghan Sampo, Seanna Jeffrey and Sandy Hull.