Michelle Bourgeois, Ela Area Public Library's teen services librarian, adjusts mittens on the library's Mitten Tree. The winter gear will be donated to residents in need. | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
Ela Area Public Library is collecting new and used mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to hang on its Mitten Tree, which in turn will be given to residents in need. | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
Ela Area Public Library is collecting new and used mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to hang on its Mitten Tree, which in turn will be given to residents in need. | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
Several mitten sets on the Ela Libary's Mitten Tree, such as this pair, were hand-knitted by the Warm Up Lake Zurich knitting group. | Michelle LaVigne ~ Sun-Times Media
LAKE ZURICH — To complement the many coat drives that occur this time of year, the Ela Area Public Library is giving away donated mittens, gloves and hats to four area charities. For more than 30 years, the Ela Library has decorated a “mitten tree” …