GENTRY -- The Arkansas Educational Television Network and the Gentry Public Library have partnered to sponsor a Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive as a tribute to Fred Rogers and his example of being a caring neighbor. The drive will be held Nov. 1-30.
Members of the community are asked to donate new or gently-worn sweaters at Gentry Public Library, 105 East Main Street. A receptacle to collect the sweaters will be located prominently within the library. Sweaters collected in this drive will be distributed by the Arkansas Salvation Army.
"Mister Rogers epitomized the mission of educational public service media," AETN executive director Allen Weatherly said. "He dedicated his career to helping children and families grow together and thrive. His legacy is carried on through the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive. We are proud to conduct this drive to help many Arkansas neighbors and keep Fred Rogers' spirit alive."
To help set the tone for a "comfortable" visit with his young viewers, Rogers put on a sweater and changed into sneakers as a way 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. Over the course of more than 40 years, "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," PBS' 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.
Gentry Public Library is one of 30 libraries across Arkansas participating in this year's statewide Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive. A complete list of libraries is available at aetn.org/sweaterdrive. This is the third year for the statewide Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive. Last year, 20 libraries participated and collected more than 2,500 sweaters for The Salvation Army and local charities.
The Fred Rogers Company was founded by Rogers in 1971 as the non-profit 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.
The AETN is Arkansas's statewide public television network that enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN is broadcast locally on KAFT in Fayetteville.
Community on 11/02/2016