Bemis blanket project is a "Hearts On" lesson in helping others

There's no need to cover up the good things going on at Bemis Junior High.

Eighth grade students in Casey Finkbeiner's Life Skills class donated 137 handmade blankets in the month of April to six different organizations in the community.

The project is connected to learning about family challenges, and extends the textbook learning to helping real people.

The teens learn to cut and knot fleece material to create beautiful blankets. On their own time they practice their new skill and bring the blankets to school. Many of the students involve their parents and older siblings in the project.

Student Heidi Towianski chose to sew her fleece blanket, commenting, "It was more convenient for me to sew. That's what my older sisters and mom have done. I thought mine would look different that way."

Twoianski was one of 155 students this semester who donated a blanket.

Students like David Berd chose fleece with patterns they liked, so his had a paw prints since he is a dog lover. Berd chose to donate his blanket to Children's Hospital.

In past years, the Life Skills blankets have gone to children's hospitals, Project Linus, and Blankets of Hope and Love.

When deciding where to donate the blankets this semester, Finkbeiner reached out to parents. Not only did the parents come through with ideas for recipients, but they also helped with delivery.

Santino and his mom Lisa D'Andrea collected 28 blankets for Wilson Cancer Center, and noticed how beautiful the fleece patterns were.

Mrs. Block and her daughter Emily took 10 blankets to elderly patients at Sinai Grace and Harper Hospital. Michaela Cristobal's mom delivered 17 blankets to children entering foster care, and Nicho Antwan helped his mom deliver 13 blankets to Turning Point. Cole Chapp and his mother sent 13 more to a local pregnancy center. Autumn Hawkins and her older sister Amber collected 56 blankets for Children's Hospital.

As a BONUS project, Mrs Finkbeiner had students turn in the long edge scraps and she taught them how to braid the pieces to make dog tug toys.

Elaina Schleif then took the toys to a local animal rescue. The square pieces cut from the corners were hung on display in the Life Skills classroom, and small scraps are being woven into a colorful rug.

This blanket project was more than just hands-on learning; it was HEARTS-on learning. The kids loved making the blankets, the parents loved helping make deliveries, and the recipients are sure to love the blankets.