The tree was proposed by one of the library's part-time employees.

Fall is just around the corner now that the summer months have ended. It'll soon be time for gloves, hats, scarves and other accoutrements to keep out the cold. However, there are some in Huron County who lack any those, including small children.

Fortunately, there are those dedicated to keeping kids a little warmer this year, including the Port Austin Township Library with their new Mitten Tree charity. Those who visit the library can leave new or knitted scarves, hats, gloves, and other winter necessities for young children around kindergarten age under the small wooden tree inside the door across from the circulation desk.

"We don't want kids with cold hands or heads," said the library's director, Mary Jaworski.

The donation period is open until the first week of November, which will give them enough time to distribute the clothes to the children before the winter chill fully sets in. The donations will firstgo to the students of the North Huron School District, then to the Clothe-a-Child program in Bad Axe. However, the library will be providing clothing items as needed.

Donations have already been coming in, with the largest donation coming from a church based in Detroit that somehow heard about it and sent in a load of donations. There haven't been many individual donations from area residents as of Sept. 2, but the library has done its best to spread the word through its newsletter and Facebook page.

"Hopefully, we'll start getting some more," Jaworski said.