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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Christmas tree at Twist will be decorated with more than bulbs and silver garland after Saturday night.

Singer-songwriter Tina Roy will be one of three musicians performing at V-Day North's Melodies for Mittens fundraising event at Twist tomorrow night. - Katherine Hudson/NNSL photo

V-Day North is hosting Melodies for Mittens, a musical fundraising event where the cover charge is cut in half if attendees bring new or slightly used winter wear, such as mittens, gloves, socks, scarves and hats to adorn the tree.

The warm garments, as well as 90 per cent of the funds received, will then be donated to the Centre for Northern Families and Alison McAteer House, which is run by the YWCA. The additional 10 per cent of funds will be contributed to the global V-Day campaign to support women in Haiti.

Breanna Bray, chair of the musical events committee for V-Day North, said this is the first time the global movement is organizing such an event.

"It's a good time. It's freezing cold outside and not everyone can afford to buy winter gear so we're just trying to help in any way we can," she said.

There is a most-definite need for warm clothing in Yellowknife. In the last fiscal year, 170 children stayed at Alison McAteer House - the YWCA's family violence shelter - according to Julie Green, the association's director of community relations.

"The house is always full. There are always children there," said Green.

"People often arrive with only the clothing they're wearing because they leave immediately and they arrive with very little. It's a cold time of year so any efforts people can help us make to keep our clients warm and safe from the cold are very much appreciated."

Linzie McIvor, a.k.a. Linzie Rac, Tina Roy and Leela Gilday - who recently won Best Female Entertainer of the Year at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards - are among the entertainers on the bill.

"I'm glad that I was able to participate this year and I'm happy to support this organization. I've seen them do a lot of good work over the last couple of years in Yellowknife," Roy said.

Roy said the fundraiser serves a dual purpose, both for women at home in the community and in Haiti.

"I love the fact that it's not only for bettering Yellowknife, but also just for the world ... Helping everyone, realizing we're all in the same boat whether you're here or in another country. If one of us is struggling then all of us are struggling," she said.

Melodies for Mittens starts at 9 p.m. on Saturday at Twist. Doors open at 8 p.m.

The tree will stand at Twist for a few weeks after the musical night to collect more mittens and hats on its branches.

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