School kids wrap trees with love

Some Green Bay fourth-graders were out spreading a bit of warmth in our community recently. Kids from Jackson Elementary School took a field trip to Colburn Park to wrap hand-knit scarves around trees. Each scarf has a note that says, “Cold? Please take this scarf with love from a Jackson Elementary friend.”

The kids says the idea of helping someone stay warm during the winter makes them feel good.

“It makes our hearts warm to be able to so this and to help people that need it,” said McKenzie, age 9.

These elementary students are also learning some important life lessons, according to ten-year-old Milo.

“Can I tell you one thing I’ve learned from doing this?,” Milo asked. “It’s easier to do stuff when you’re sharing stuff with everyone and you work together.”

De Pere’s Linda Saugstad is the talent behind all 61 scarves.

“Keeps me busy, keeps me active and makes me feel like I’m contributing to the community,” she said.

Saugstad sits proudly by, watching the kids wrap her scarves around trees, from her wheelchair. Because of her mobility issues, she said she’s limited in what she can do to give back. That’s why a Facebook post seeking warm winter clothing items spoke directly to her heart.

“I thought, ‘Well I don’t have any extra coats or winter clothes,” Saugstad explained, “but I can knit scarves.'”

Saugstad said it only took her a couple months to knit more than five dozen scarves. She says what she gets back for her efforts is more than worth all the time and talent she puts into making so many scarves.

“The kids send me letters each year after they do the field trip,” Saugstad said.

This is the second year the students at Jackson Elementary have gone on this special fourth-grade field trip.