Students deliver spirit of giving to new moms
Rob Zolman
Juniper FirstStrike snips excess thread off her baby blanket project.
Rob Zolman
Vance Means irons out the wrinkles in his project.
Rob Zolman
Owen Shirtliff very carefully stitches the hem of his baby blanket.
Rob Zolman
Kaitlyn Stutzman and Ryleigh Bell lay out the baby blanket material for cutting.
Rob Zolman
Grace Larivee uses the serger for the first time
Rob Zolman
MVCA Lady Eagles volleyball team.
Rob Zolman
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POLSON — Over the last couple of weeks, student athletes from the Mission Valley Christian Academy Lady Eagles volleyball team have been making baby blankets and bibs for a baby box donation project.
The group was joined by students participating in an afterschool sewing class, sponsored by the Polson Boys and Girls Club of Lake County and the Flathead Reservation.
The handmade blankets and bibs will be given away as part of the Helping Hands’ Baby Box Community Cradle project. The project was modeled after a program in Finland that began more than 70 years ago in which baby boxes were given to parents to curb infant mortality rates by promoting safe sleeping practices for newborns. The boxes also provide parents of newborns with essentials to welcome their new arrivals.
Helping Hands, an ecumenical effort of the Mission Valley Ministerial association, distributes the baby boxes to mothers with newborns.
“Since the Baby Box Community Cradle Project began in December of 2017, Helping Hands and the Providence St. Joseph’s network have gifted over 300 baby boxes to mothers and their newborns, regardless of their financial status,” explained Helping Hands administrator Jennifer Rolfsness.
“The community cradles are custom designed boxes that include helpful baby products like diapers, wipes and binkies. The baby box also contains a basic padded foam mattress that serves as a safe sleeping space for infants up to about five-months old.”
MVCA school representative Annette Schiele said the school volunteered to help with the project using funding provided by a Live Generously community grant in the amount of $250 from Thrivent Financial. The Lady Eagles teamed up to develop a budget, form a list of needed supplies and made a trip to the local Walmart to shop for the necessary items.
While at Walmart, store manager Dan DeWitt met the team and presented them with an additional $50 gift card, along with a generous discount on all the items purchased for the boxes. “They loved picking out the fabric and shopping for the baby items,” Schiele said.
The girls searched the store for the best bargains on fabric, socks, onesies, jammies and additional items for the baby boxes.
Once back in class, students used a pattern to measure, cut and sew the blankets. With three sewing machines going at once, 24 blankets were made within an hour.
Schiele said the experience was very positive. The girls said they enjoyed learning to sew, especially using the sewing machines. Many of the participants had never used a machine before.
“I loved using the serger for the first time and knowing I was making a blanket for a baby that might not have one otherwise,” said Grace Larivee.
On Friday, six youngsters at the Polson Boys and Girls Club finished their projects. “It makes me feel kind, helping make the blankets for the babies in need,” said Juniper FirstStrike, after she finished using the sewing machine.
