MonticelloLive

Students participating in Monticello High School’s 21st Century after-school program recently completed 50 pillows to be donated to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. The students, working with Donna Francis, the Drew County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Science, and Carolyn Ripley, MHS’ 21st Century site director, sewed and stuffed the pillows.  

According to Ripley, most of the students had never sewed before. "It was interesting to see them learn how to navigate a sewing machine and to see them slipstitch the ends of the pillows." Two students, Randi Kaye Atkins and Katelyn Burch, "sewed like pros," according to Ripley. Two male students, Bo Kelley and Tim Francis, exhibited "good sportsmanship" as they joined the girls in the project.

Small pillows were made for the younger children of the hospital while larger pillows were made for the older patients. The smaller pillows featured flowers for girls and car and tractor motifs for the boys. The larger pillows featured camouflage, space, Star Wars, and Spider Man fabrics for the boys and flower, fish, and princess fabrics for the girls.

According to a hospital spokesperson, the children use the pillows for comfort when they are feeling ill and when they sleep.

Part of the philosophy of the after-school program, according to Ripley, is to teach students to give something back to their communities through volunteer activities.