Volunteering day touted to honor late Mister Rogers; kids’ TV icon would have been 82 Saturday

Volunteer day promoted to honor late Mister Rogers

PITTSBURGH — Mister Rogers cared deeply about his neighbors and his neighborhood, both in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and in real life.

Now, friends of the late television icon want to honor him with a national day of volunteering on his birthday. Rogers died in 2003 and would have been 82 on Saturday.

David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” says volunteering meant a great deal to Rogers.

The idea for Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Day grew out of Sweater Day, which Family Communications Inc. of Pittsburgh has promoted over the past several years to honor Rogers. Rogers created the company to produce his show and other family friendly educational fare.

Of course, people are still encouraged to wear sweaters.