November 18, 2009

Students put faith in action making quilts for needy

By Julie Filby

By the end of the school year, junior high students at Shrine of St. Anne School in Arvada will have donated more than 500 homemade baby quilts to single-parent families.

The Quilt Project, started in 2002 by then-religion teacher Jill Svoboda, is a community service component of the eighth-grade Faith-in-Action class and seventh-grade religion class. It was established to support mothers who reject abortion and choose life in the case of an unexpected pregnancy.

“The project was a response to the students’ desire to help young girls and single moms who choose to keep their babies,” according to junior high religion teacher Joyce Jelinek, who currently heads the project. “Our quilts are made with love and support—and are given as proof of that support.”

Each student starts sewing a 32-inch by 38-inch long quilt in the fall, working on it twice a month to finish it by spring.

“We take our time and make them with love,” said eighth-grader Abby Stanley.

To help bring the project to life, the class has welcomed speakers from pregnancy centers to talk about their facilities and their mission to help unwed mothers.

“Knowing more about the needs of the moms helps the students during the process of sewing,” Jelinek said.

Much of the preparation and sewing instruction is provided by parent volunteer Paula Solis who has helped with the project since its inception. Solis buys the fabric, cuts it to size and teaches the students how to sew. She became involved with the project when her son was in eighth grade and continued as her other three sons went through eighth grade.

“She continues to work with the project because she believes in it,” Jelinek said.

In the class, many of the students learn to sew for the first time.

“It’s really fun learning how to sew,” said eighth-grader Joseph Kribs. “Helping people in addition to learning is a great way to spend time at school.”

When the quilts are ready, Jelinek will plan two field trips—one for each grade—to deliver them to organizations and shelters selected by the students. In the past, they have delivered to Father Ed Judy House, Samaritan House, Ronald McDonald House, The Children’s Hospital, Warren Village, The Gathering Place, Shannon’s Hope, Bridgeway and Buena Vista Pregnancy Center.

When they deliver the quilts, they also tour the facility.

“We want the students to get a good picture of how the shelter works,” Jelinek said. “It really helps them see that their quilts are making a difference.”

Eighth-grader Robert Middle-mist, who is in his second year with The Quilt Project, was moved by the experience last year.

“You feel the love and the passion when you deliver them,” he said. “Helping people really puts faith into action.”

Classmate Taryn Laschinger agreed.

“If we just believe in our faith, we’re not actually proving it,” she said. “When you put faith into action, you’re telling people you’re truly dedicated to it.”

When the project started eight years ago, it was financed by a parishioner from St. Anne Church. Today it is funded primarily by parents from the school community. Students in the lower grades collect money to help with expenses. This year seventh-grade students also contributed the cost of their quilts. Any extra money collected will go toward future quilts.

Other components of the Faith-in-Action class include weekly visits to the Oberon House, an assisted living facility in Arvada, working at the sandwich line at St. Elizabeth’s and regular visits to World Vision to help with donations for third world countries.

“The class is going strong,” Jelinek said. “And looking for more opportunities to respond to the Denver community with action and compassion.”