Brick Teens Make Pillows for Cancer Survivors

has heart.

Students recently sewed hearts as part of their Family and Consumer class with teacher Joanne Brixie. Inspired by the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Brixie knew her dedicated class would enjoy making the selfless gift of underarm pillows for breast cancer patients and survivors. 

Underarm pillows are designed to provide comfort for patients recuperating from mastectomies and lumpectomies. 

Brixie was inspired by a co-worker’s involvement and the school’s passion for the cause and decided to rouse the class to further her campaign. 

“I just came up with the idea. We do a lot with different clubs with the school during breast cancer awareness month,” said Brixie.

She said she had a contact from another teacher at the school.

Her class of 10 made 100 pillows in a month, working Monday through Friday. They had some help from a former student, who came in during her lunch period to help stuff and sew.

“She was an excellent stuffer!” said Alexa Puglisi, Family & Consumer student about the former student. 

Beyond making the pillows, the class wanted to provide encouragement with their creations, so they added phrases to add inspiration.

They included:

“We sewed hearts and cute little sayings, like ‘Save the Ta-Ta’s!’, and other ones we found online. What were some other ones?” asked Brixie of her class.

“Keep second base safe!”

“Courage!”

“Cancer can’t conquer spirit!”

The phrases were virtually endless.  

Brixie plans on continuing the project next school year.