As a member of the PTA, and a parent of a former fourth grader, I knew of this day, and the excitement that it generates.  This year, prior to the event, I discovered that the quilts that the fourth graders tie are generally donated to needy organizations.  I also discovered that the teachers had not found homes for some of the quilts they tied the previous year, and they did not have plans for the quilts they would be tying this year.  I quickly called one of the teachers and explained the Warming Families program to her.  She discussed the program with the other fourth grade teachers, and they decided that they would donate these quilts to the Warming Families Project.  I was thrilled!

HOW THEY FUNDED THE PROJECT:
Each year the fourth grade holds a fund raiser to earn money for the kids to go on field trips.  Part of that money also goes toward the funding of Pioneer Day.  This year, the fourth grade sold cookie and cheesecake dough for their fund raiser.  When it was time to prepare for Pioneer Day, the teachers purchased the material and yarn to make three twin sized quilts.  The fabric that they chose was flannel – warm and cozy.  They called around and borrowed quilting frames, called parent volunteers, and the Warming Families quilts were soon under construction.

As the children were quilting, the teacher told them of the Warming Families project, but because they were concentrating so hard to learn this new skill, little of what she told them was remembered.  So she invited me to speak to the children at an awards assembly on the last day of school.  The teacher, Mrs. Young, called me to the stage, and presented the blankets to me.  I then talked to the entire school about the need for blankets in homeless shelters.  We are fortunate to live in an area where the homeless situation is not too bad, but in the Salt Lake City area, the problem is much worse.  I explained to the children that there were many children who did not have homes to go to at night.  I had them look around the gym, where there were approximately 575 people in attendance.  I told them that in one shelter in Salt Lake City, there were more people than were present in that gym who were seeking shelter each night during the cold winter months.  I thanked them for their donation of the quilts, and explained that the blankets they had made would be put to good use.  I also encouraged them to work on quilts during the summer months, so they could help even more.

Later during the awards ceremony, one of the fifth grade teachers called me forward.  Her class had made a quilt as well.  Each child in the class had decorated a large square with the title, and a picture of their favorite book.  They did not have any plans for their quilt, and when they found out about the Warming Families project, they decided to donate their quilt to me as well!  In all, I left the school that day with six quilts to be donated to a shelter in Salt Lake City.

I was happy to have the children involved in this project.  I have talked to several parents since then, and they have also been surprised by the need that exists in shelters throughout the state.  We have learned that it does not have to be just adults who get involved in making quilts and afghans for the homeless.  The children in our lives are wonderfully giving and generous.  They have a tremendous capacity to love.  Now my children are looking forward to working on quilts this summer.  It is my hope that many others are as well.