P.O. Box 3269 | Stowe, VT 05672 | (802) 253-7409

Project Linus

MMWA students are involved each winter with two community service projects. Designed to give something back to the community, tap into talents that can tend to hide amongst academic and athletic skills and taking time to get everyone together these events usually produce strong memories. All students are expected to spend three to five days skiing with the younger racers in the Mt. Mansfield Ski & Snowboard Club throughout the season serving as role models and mentors. The second projects changes about every two years and has varied from services provided to Lamoille County senior citizens, improvements to the Lamoille Nature Center, winter festivals for MMSC families and Project Linus.

This year, Project Linus, which is a program that provides child-sized quilts to children who are hospitalized for long term illnesses, was brought back. Thirty students met one Saturday in early December to work in groups, creating and producing eight quilts. Under the direction of Linda Pelletier and Beth McDermott, who volunteered time and material, and the assistance of Nifer Knight and Tiania Adams the scraps became comfortable blankets that would provide comfort to a small child.

As is always at MMWA, chaos reigned in the three rooms where duties were divided into design, cutting, pinning, and sewing. In an effort to expose everyone to every aspect of quilt making, (and to reduce boredom!) students rotated jobs. It is no simple feat to organize thirty teenagers to do anything never mind complicating it with such dangerous tools as common pins, scissors, and sewing machines! Perseverance, a bit of fun, and several snack breaks later, seven groups had cut out and pinned together their quilts. A lack of sewing machines slowed down the process and by six p.m. most students had packed away their projects for the day.