In the WORC Light is a column that highlights one of over 70 businesses that work with and support Winona ORC.

Submitted by Dave Servais: Owner of MN Mittens.

Minnesota Mittens is a nationally sold product manufactured in whole at Winona ORC. They are manufactured from scrap material or excess yarns to help benefit both the environment and the people of Winona.

Current Highlights:
Due to the history of the Winona Knitting Mills and these mittens our customers hear many stories on how people love these mittens and how they have been looking for years for them.  The history of these mittens is that they have been manufactured for many years through the Winona Knitting Mills and distributed through the Winona Knits stores.  Both companies have closed making it difficult to locate these mittens.  When customers heard that they were sold in Winona, they would drive from Minneapolis to Winona to purchase these mittens.  Last week I had a store in Michigan request a pair of mittens with two left hands, but explained this special pair was for a disabled veteran who lost one arm in the war.  We hear so many neat stories.

How are we involved:
We have WORC knit, wash, cut, sew over 21,500 pair of mittens per year.

Another highlight was the daily production we received from WORC this year.  Sales exploded, and we had a great response from WORC on increasing the daily quantity to all time high levels.

Why are you involved with WORC?
These mittens have a long history of being manufactured in Winona, and it is great that we can continue this business and give back to people of Winona.  I once had an WORC employee thank me for these mittens, she said without them, she might not have a job.  So it is very nice to be able to make a great product and to be able to give back to the community.

Please check out www.winonaorc.org/about/minnesota-mittens/ to see pictures on manufacturing MN Mittens and find out where you can buy them locally!