Missionettes collecting hats, mittens

WASILLA -- A children's group from Wasilla Assembly of God is hoping to help others this winter by keeping them warm.

The Missionettes are collecting hats and mittens to distribute this winter. After all the hats and mittens are collected, the Missionettes will be handing them out on Oct. 19 from noon to 4 p.m. at the church. Anybody who needs a hat or mittens is invited to come and take them on that day, without any questions asked.

The idea to host an event came from the Missionette's coordinator, Cora Houlton.

"I was reading Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul and there was a very inspirational story about a grandmother who always knit hats and mittens for children," Houlton said. "Once, she didn't have a set to give to the last child in a group who needed one, and she said she would never be without a set of hat and mittens to give away again because kids needed them. She was always sewing, so others would stay warm. That stuck with me."

Houlton said the group is accepting all sizes of hat and mitten sets, which should match. They will be given to adults and to children, so all sizes and styles are needed.

There is a tree just inside the foyer of the Wasilla Assembly of God church, located off Knik-Goose Bay Road, where people can drop off their clothing. Houlton said people can simply stop by the church and put the clothing under the tree.

Any hats or mittens left over after the pickup day will be donated to a local charity, Houlton said, making sure that people stay warm whether or not they pick them up from the church or go to a local nonprofit agency.

The Missionettes is a youth group that meets every Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There are 3- and 4-year-old boys in the group, otherwise, it is a group for girls ages three through eighth grade.

Sleepover scheduled

The Missionettes are also hosting a sleepover on Sept. 27. It is a national church function, and children in grades kindergarten through junior high are invited to participate. The sleepover starts at 7 p.m. and runs through noon on Sept. 28.

There will be a number of activities planned throughout the church during the event, Houlton said.

If people are interested in the sleepover, they must contact Houlton before the event. Her phone number is 373-6446.

Permission slips must be signed by each participant's parent, Houlton said.