Individuals at Family House in Toledo soon will have something warm to cuddle up with.
Fifth-graders at Conneaut Elementary are making fleece tie blankets this week to donate to the home.
The idea came from Kelly Largent, a student teacher for math and language arts at the school.
She explained the class read “A Family Apart” by Joan Lowery Nixon. In the story, a widowed mother sent
her children west from New York City because she’s convinced that she can’t give them the life they
deserve. Then they are forced to part ways as well.
Largent picked this project to connect the concept of students in need today and picked Family House
because it is focused on keeping families together in tough times. About 45-50 students are helping make
14 blankets for the shelter.
“I enjoy making things for other people,” student Anna Rein said about why she is participating.
“It’s cold outside,” Navaeh Wright added, to the laughter of her friends.
The class gets together during the 20 minutes usually spent outside at recess.
Karsyn Blankenship said she likes helping people in need. “It’s helpful to others.”
Both Blankenship and Rose Walters have made these types of blankets before.
Two pieces of fleece are pinned together, then the edges are cut into strips. The strips from each side
of the fleece are then tied together.
“I really like doing things for people that would help them,” Rose said.
The cutting has been hard, said Karsyn, and Navaeh added that the fleece was not measured correctly.
Largent got the funds for the fleece from donations from parents and fellow Bowling Green State
University students.
She is to graduate in May with a degree in middle childhood education.
