WLJT, a public broadcasting station for West Tennessee, is sponsoring a sweater collection drive in Clement Hall, room 152 leading up to the showing of Won’t You Be My Neighbor? at 7 p.m. on April 9 at the Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center (The Ned).
The sweater drive drop-off deadline is Friday, April 5. However, sweaters can be donated the night of the showing.
WLJT has asked the UTM community to donate any new or slightly used sweaters for this event, in honor of Fred Rogers’ legacy of kindness and his sweaters.
“Good Neighbor”, as the event has been titled, is free to the public and guests are encouraged to wear their favorite sweaters in honor of Rogers.
His cardigans reminded viewers to slow down and take the time to help others when possible, which has become the foundation of the charity drive.
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? is a documentary by Morgan Neville detailing the life of Rogers and showing how his teachings influenced generations to work toward an accepting and kind society.
The film is rated PG-13 because of some of the behind-the-scenes topics which Rogers dsicussed such as racism and equality.
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood broadcasted on PBS for 33 years, and ended just two years before his death in 2003.
Rogers taught children everywhere important life lessons through his puppets in the Neighborhood of Make Believe.
The Ned will open at 6 p.m. and the film will begin at 7 p.m. WLJT will raffle off several items and will host a silent auction for a hand-painted guitar based off of the themes Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood taught its viewers.
WLJT will partner with the Regional Inter-Faith Association and the Area Ministerial Alliance to distribute the sweaters to those in need.
More information about the event can be found on their website at https://www.ourjacksonhome.com/community-calendar/2019/4/9/wljt-good-neighbor-event.
Photo Credit | IMDb
