Thursday, December 4, 2014 10:11 am

Central Maine Power Co. is joining forces with WMTW-TV (Channel 8) to keep Maine kids warm this winter. The utility is launching its 11th annual Community Mitten Drive, and WMTW is supporting the event through a series of public-service announcements.

"We're accepting donations of new, store-bought or handmade mittens, hats, and scarves to help keep Maine kids warm this winter," says CMP spokeswoman Gail Rice. "We'll have collection boxes at all Reny's retail stores and Town and Country Federal Credit Union locations." A list of locations is posted CMP's web site at http://www.cmpco.com/GivingBack/inthecommunity/mittendrive.html.

CMP corresponds with schools throughout its service area to gauge the need for children's mittens, hats, and scarves. Once received, the items will be distributed to where they're needed most. The drive will continue through February 2015.

CMP's Community Mitten Drive traces its roots to a local effort started by a group of employees at the utility's Portland Service Center. In 2004, the company decided to launch a larger program to cover children throughout its 11,000-square-mile service area in central and southern Maine. Over the past 10 years, CMP has distributed more than 55,000 pieces of winter gear to local youngsters.

The Mitten Drive is one of several community-service projects at CMP. Every year, the utility donates copies of award-winning books to more than 600 schools and libraries around the state.

CMP also supports young people and learning through donations to Kennebec Valley Community College, and scholarship programs at the University of Maine.