On Tuesday, Nov. 22, the Christmas tree in the Wareham Elementary School lobby was not decorated with traditional ornaments. Instead, 75 hand-knitted hats and mittens made by the local knitting club Knit Wits lined the branches. 

Knit Wits, a Wareham-based knitting group which was founded in 2010 to make hats, scarves and mittens for the homeless, donated 75 hats stuffed with tissues, glue sticks, pencils and other school supplies for the students to use. 

Knit Wits has donated clothes to Wareham Elementary School students for approximately five years, according to Knit Wits coordinator Sheila Monaghan. 

“If there is a need, we will donate,” said Monaghan.

Monaghan, who worked as a teacher for 35 years before retiring, said that she came up with the idea to donate not only hats and mittens but also school supplies. 

“It was so exciting to watch [the students] pick out their hats,” said Monaghan.

Knit Wits also donates their handmade winter essentials to local nursing homes and Damien’s Food Pantry. 

“We here at Wareham Elementary School are very grateful for their warm contribution to us and are very thankful for their tremendous generosity,” Principal Bethany Chandler said.