Helping Hands-A Lesson Learned

The 65, fourth graders at Keyport Central School, along with the help of their teachers, have a new take on "Helping Hands".

Rather than write letters to hospitalized children, these creative kids designed four usable, warm quilts to give to a child who calls the hospital home.

Each child transferred their handprint, name and message onto a 12 x 12 piece of white cotton using fabric markers and fabric paint. Once dry, all pieces were sewn together to form four separate quilts. As part of a larger ongoing campaign with the Keyport Chapter of PROJECT LINUS called, "Blankets With Heart", all four quilts will be donated to Jersey Shore Medical Center's Pediatric Wing on February 14, 2000 (Valentine's Day).

The fabric used for the project was supplied at a tremendous savings through the Magic Mike's Scraps to Wraps Project, a Pennsylvania based organization that recycles health care apparel fabric scraps back into the community for reuse in various community service projects rather than letting them end up in our landfills. Just another great example of community work partnering their resources and talents collectively.

"The children were so eager to volunteer their time", says Hillary Robert, Project Coordinator for the Keyport Chapter of Project Linus." It was inspiring to see so many happy faces, they really understood how much they were helping other children."

Project Linus, is a non profit organization headquartered in Colorado whose mission is simple. All children suffering serious illness or trauma can be comforted through the warmth and kindness of a donated "blankie". Inspired by the Peanuts character, Linus Van Pelt, PROJECT LINUS has over 300 cahpters worldwide and to date has donated over 120,000 blankets.

A Lesson Learned: Kids CAN help kids, just by holding hands.(:-)