By Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
A project aimed at providing warmth and security to disadvantaged children had district teachers quilting, knitting, and crocheting 30 blankets for the local Project Linus chapter, with the blanket donation occurring later this month.
According to project organizers Laura Felker, Hillsborough Elementary School main office clerk, and Ellen Stem, the school’s counselor, the project started after Ms. Stem bought a book, “Knitting for Peace,” that outlined different service projects geared toward crafters. Open to district staff and their families exclusively, Ms. Felker and Ms. Stem distributed a notice about the project during the fall asking any quilters, crocheters, and knitters to participate.
”We chose Project Linus because we loved the idea of helping children who are in need and as we wanted this to be a district-wide project, our donations would benefit school-age children,” Ms. Felker said. “Ms. Stem and I are both knitters and the nurse at HES is a crochet expert, so we figured we could handle anyone who was interested in learning.” With monthly meetings to teaching beginning knitters, crocheters, and quilters the ropes, the meetings were also an opportunity to compare progress and socialize, Ms. Felker said. The completed projects were displayed at Hillsborough Elementary School June 4.
Though school’s out, several teachers intend to work on their projects during the summer, Ms. Felker said. The group will reconvene in the fall to continue work on the blankets. While a staff-member only project, the donations spread to staff member’s families, and into the classrooms in some cases.
”We have had donations from about 20 staff and their family members even one 87 year old grandmother,” Ms. Felker said. “One blanket was made by a third grade class in conjunction with the art teacher. They made a fleece blanket and worked together to knot the fringed edges. We have a joint project that beginners are working on where each knitter creates a strip and we will sew them together to make one big afghan.”
