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MVCA students ‘sew’ into community service

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POLSON – Mission Valley Christian Academy students are finding ways to make a difference and a positive impact throughout the Mission Valley through monthly service projects. 

According to school representative Annette Schiele, in the past the students have raked yards for the elderly, hauled wood, removed old carpeting and have helped families move. 

“The kids help with whatever needs done,” Schiele said.

Fifth through eighth graders recently participated in a service project in which they purchased flannel fabric and made baby blankets to be distributed by Helping Hands through their baby box program. 

Helping Hands, an ecumenical effort of the Mission Valley Ministerial Association, distributes baby boxes to mothers with newborns and provides emergency assistance to county residents, as well as to those traveling through who find themselves in need. 

The goal of the baby box program is to provide newborns with a safe sleeping environment regardless of their parents' financial status. The box includes a basic foam mattress that serves as a safe sleeping space for infants up to about six months old. Diapers, wipes, onesies and other helpful baby products are also included in the box.

For their service project, MVCA students teamed up in small groups, developed a budget, formed a list of needed supplies and made a trip to the local Walmart to shop for the necessary items. 

“They loved picking out the fabric and shopping for baby items,” Schiele said.

A $500 community grant from Wal-Mart helped purchase the flannel fabric for the blankets and additional items for the baby boxes.

“I approached Dan, the Wal-Mart manager about our idea. He thought it was great,” Schiele said. She added that Dan was very helpful in the processes of applying for the grant and the approval process took only a matter of days.

MVCA student Kaitlyn Stutzman said, “This project is going to be so amazing.”

Once back in class, students used a pattern to measure, cut and sew the blankets in a way that made the baby blanket making process simple.

By the day’s end, more than 50 baby blankets had been created.

Schiele noted that the overall experience was very positive and the students said they enjoyed learning to sew, especially using the sewing machines, since most had never used a machine before. 

While sitting at her sewing machine, MVCA student Anna Schiele said, “I just sewed a blanket for a baby who might have it as their favorite one and keep it forever.”  

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