Brooks Students Show It's 'Cool to Care'

Adults can pick up a few pointers from Brooks Middle School who are demonstrating that it’s “cool to care.”

Students of the school’s recently-formed “Cool to Care Group” perform local -- and global -- community service projects.

The group’s most recent endeavor was a handmade “finger-knit blanket” for the Will County Chapter of Project Linus.

The blanket is the latest in a series of community efforts by the Cool to Care Group that include gift wrapping for homeless families and cheerful Valentine’s Day messages for every Brooks student.

“Our overall goal is to teach the girls positive coping mechanisms and problem solving skills, both of which are necessary for them to become responsible and productive adults,” said faculty co-advisor Danielle McDermott. “Part of growing up is learning how to take care of oneself and the community around you.”

The club meets every Thursday, exploring ways to help out both locally and globally.

“Each meeting consists of brainstorming fundraising ideas as well as discussions based on subjects such as leadership, self-esteem, positive relationships, healthy lifestyles, giving back to your community, etiquette and coping with life’s stresses,” said co-advisor Jill Mazzuca. “Our hope is that participants become secure young women, more engaged citizens and confident leaders among their peers.”

Project Linus is a nationwide organization whose mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need, through the gifts of handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers,” according to Will County volunteer Claudia Baxendale.

Next on the club’s agenda is a fundraiser to help address the hunger issue in Haiti by using money collected to buy goats for Haitian women.

Source: Brooks Middle School

Photo caption: With faculty advisors Danielle McDermott and Jill Mazzuca looking on, members of the Brooks Middle School “Cool to Care Group” present a blanket made by club members to Claudia Baxendale of the Will County Chapter of Project Linus.