UNIVERSITY PARK – More than 5,300 sweaters were donated during WPSU-TV’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” Sweater Drive, which concluded at the end of October. In cooperation with the Salvation Army, the drive was organized by WPSU as an opportunity for the region to provide warmth to others, a tribute to the late Fred Rogers and his example of being a caring neighbor.
WPSU marked the end of the drive with David Newell, the actor who played Mr. McFeely on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” loading the last of the sweaters onto the Penn State (Molly) Trolley, which were delivered to various Salvation Army centers last Thursday. “The generosity from our WPSU neighbors has warmed the outsides and insides of many people,” said Newell.
During the Neighborhood Sweater Drive, members of the community were asked to donate new or gently worn sweaters. Collection boxes were placed in WPSU’s lobby and at 18 various businesses throughout its coverage area. Drop-off boxes for the drive were donated by St. Marys Box Co. of St. Marys. The Salvation Army will distribute sweaters during the holiday season to those who need sweaters to stay warm. Sweaters will be distributed back to the WPSU-TV viewing neighborhood.
Leading the way in the drive was the St. Marys Daily Press drop-off location, collecting 1,541 sweaters during the drive, which began in mid-September. Close behind was State College with 1,180 sweaters collected at Robert M. Sides Family Music Center and WPSU’s lobby. The location collecting the third-most sweaters was Lewistown with 496 sweaters dropped off at Capperella Furniture.
“The sweater drive truly helped our community to be good neighbors,” said Ted Krichels, associate vice president for Outreach at Penn State and general manager of Penn State Public Broadcasting. “Our thanks go out to The Salvation Army, the local businesses who served as collection points and to the many volunteers, such as those in the Retired and Seniors Volunteer Program, who sorted through thousands of sweaters.”
“All of us, at some time or other, need help,” Rogers once 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.”
“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” airs at 7:30 a.m. weekdays of WPSU. It is the longest-running children’s program on PBS.
All of Rogers’ original sweaters were knitted by his mother. Each year she knitted a dozen sweaters, and at Christmas, she gave one to family and close friends. To help set the tone for a “comfortable” visit with his young viewers, Rogers decided to put on a sweater and change into sneakers as a way to help children settle in for the half-hour program. One of his sweaters is on display at the Smithsonian Institute.