NORWAY — Local children are in “desperate need” of mittens and gloves, the town’s General Assistance director says.

Shannon Moxcey, who serves as the General Assistance director for several towns including Norway, said that a few years ago, the Norway Police Department became heavily involved in the nationwide Walking School Bus, a program created to improve student health and to save the school district money.

She said the department has been noticing students in need of mittens while walking to school.

“We like to have mittens available at the Town Office, and also at the warming hut at the Bruce Fox Memorial Ice Rink, but after the cold weather we’ve been having, (the supply) is lower than it’s ever been,” Moxcey said. “We’re pretty much out.”

Moxcey said that she, the Norway Town Office and the Norway Police Department are looking for donations of mittens and gloves to leave at the Town Office or the ice rink warming hut.

“We’re hoping that there are local crafters out there who are looking for a project and can make some mittens, and that people with leftover mittens can drop them off so we have them for the kids,” Moxcey said.

She said that if people have mittens or gloves that they would like to donate, they can leave them at the front desks of the Norway Town Office or the Norway Police Department.

mdaigle@sunmediagroup.net