 A winner in Brainerd poses an extra challenge for those without adequate winter gear. The Brainerd Police Department, though, is working to combat that problem with their giving tree. Trees outside of the Brainerd Police Department are decorated with handmade winter hats and scarves for anyone in the community to take to keep warm. The winter gear is knitted and has a tag stating, M-Lod, I am not lost. If you are cold, please take me to keep you warm. If you feel in need, it's a great place for them to just quickly access it, see what fits them, grab what they need and go on their way. And two, it's a really good positive image for the police department. It's just another great way through community policing that members of our community have taken an initiative to partner with the police department to help some people who could maybe use some warm hats or mittens. The winter gear that is donated must be hand knitted or new from the store. This was started just over three years ago by a group of knitters with a local Brainerd business called U-Trinkets. The group put the gear out once the weather starts to get cold and they maintain the trees throughout the winter season. When they contacted us, they thought that this would be a good point of contact. It's easily recognized by people. We get a lot of different visitors throughout the day and we obviously have trees closed to our entrance so it worked well for them to put the hats and the mittens there. Anyone in need is welcome to come take winter gear from the giving trees located along East River Road in downtown Brainerd. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.