Perry’s Academic, Cultural, and Enrichment Services (PACES) program has long relied on the generosity of the community to sustain itself, and that’s true once again as they bring back the popular “Mitten Wall” for the holidays.
PACES Director Mary Hillman says people had been asking her about the program for several weeks, and it’s now up and ready for people to participate. “We started the Mitten Wall as a project, not only for helping us get supplies that we need — games and books, things that have just been worn out, which is a good problem — but also it teaches service at this time of year to our students. And it’s gotten to be very popular as an annual thing.”
The Mitten Wall is located in the PACES office at Perry Elementary, and people can come in and select as many mittens as they’d like. Participants then buy what’s printed on the mitten and bring it back to be opened at a later date. Hillman adds, “We ask that they wrap them if they can, because it’s fun for the kids to unwrap them after the holidays and put the mitten back on the package. And on the wall, it has a really, I think, neat saying that says, ‘Take a hand to lend a hand.’ And I think it’s a really good thought.”
Mittens can be selected any time before winter break, which starts Friday. The gifts can then be brought back on January 3rd, when school is back in session. To learn more about the Mitten Wall and other upcoming PACES projects, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.