Beltrami Electric Cooperative (BEC) recently delivered donated mittens, hats, and scarves to seven area Head Start and Early Child Family Education (ECFE) programs throughout the Cooperative’s service area as part of its 21st Annual Mitten Tree campaign.

BEC saw a record number of items donated this year, with over 1,200 items collected. "The support from our members and communities has been overwhelming," said Angela Lyseng, marketing/communications specialist at Beltrami Electric Cooperative. "In previous years, our goal was to provide one item to each student. This year however, we were able to deliver multiple items, such as a hat and mittens, for each student. We received some wonderful homemade hats, mittens and scarves." With some schools in distance-learning, the teachers will be completing the distribution to the students.

Cooperatives around the world adhere to the same Seven Cooperative Principles that guide all our decisions – from how we run the co-op, to how we engage with our local communities. Concern for community is the seventh principle and it is one that seems especially important. No matter how great or small the act, every time we give back, we strengthen our community. 

Donations are accepted throughout the year, and are distributed to students in December.