Students warm children in Afghanistan with ‘Mittens across Miles’

They may only be in Grade 2, but the two boys are on a mission to warm children halfway around the globe.

Lane Latreille and his best buddy Sebastian Fiset have instigated “Mittens across Miles,” a project that will send hats and mittens to children living in Afghanistan.

Both of the boys’ fathers are members of the Canadian Armed Forces and have served in Afghanistan. Their accounts of children with no shoes or warm clothing spurred their sons to action.

The boys wrote a letter to the Brooklyn Elementary School principal with a special request to collect mittens and hats for Afghan children.

“One day my dad called my mom and asked if she and some friends could send over some mittens because the little kids were so cold.” The boy said.

“The children would try to give “thumbs up” to the Canadian soldiers, Latreille said, but their hands were too cold. He said some kids never had shoes. “My dad felt very sad.”

“This year, Sebastian and I thought of ‘Mittens across Miles.’ If we could all donate a pair of mittens or even a hat, we could keep a lot of kids warn this year,” the young Latreille wrote.

Vice-principal Joyce Anna Hines was so touched she decided to share the letter with parents in a special memo asking to support the boys’ initiative.

Collected with vigor

Students and parents at the school began collecting with vigor. So far, one box has already been filled, and donations are coming in from all facets of the community. Many of the mittens and hats have been hand knit, as well.

“There are plenty of mittens and hats coming our way,” said Hines. “What these boys have done is very impressive. It shows a lot of concern for children in other parts of the world. They have the realization that we do have a responsibility to others.”

Lane’s father, Master Seaman Rob Latreille, pointed out that although it is presumed the climate in Afghanistan is mild, that’s just not the case. During the winter season, temperatures can drop well below zero and it often snows, he said.

Last year, collections were made within his the military unit, and now with the help of the school there will be even more donations to send.

M/S Latreille had made a presentation on behalf of “Mittens across Miles” during the school’s Remembrance Day assembly, Nov 10. Pictures were displayed of families living in the village near Camp Hero in Kandahar where he was last posted.

One photo showed a young boy of three or four receiving mittens last year. “He had nothing on but a T-Shirt, nothing underneath and no shoes,” M/S Latreille said. Latreille later gave the boy shoes.

Images made impression

Those images had made a big impression on the two young boys. The young Latreille and Fiset say they already have their winter boots and can't imagine having to go without. “It makes me feel bad to see those pictures,” Latreille said. “No, hat or shoes, just a shirt,” Fiset added.

His mom, Pauline, said the project has become a valuable lesson for her son and his best friend. “It’s become a real learning experience for them. It’s made them questions what is going on over there. I’m so pleased that they tough about someone else.” Particularity, she added, when it benefits children living so far away. “They are doing this without ever seeing the results of their efforts.”

But it seems these boys have the figured out, as well. “Maybe if we give a small child a pair of warm mittens he will never forget, and when he grows up he will remember what we did to help him and he will grow up to be a good person,” Latreille said.

Donations will be collected at the school up until Dec 15.