A Lapeer West High School class project in the Clothing Construction class of Ms. Charlotte Cornell yielded more learning than just the skills needed to make a quilt.Photo caption: Some McLaren employee names are not known. Second from left (standing) Ms. Charlotte Cornell, teacher; West student Whitney Avenall (next to Ms. Cornell), students Tabitha Barber and Jane Craemer (far right standing next to Dr. Dr. Ed Gullekson, and student Morgan Burgess (front, center). Additional photos are at the District's photo gallery.
Students in the class made baby and child quilts and then donated them to Hurley Medical Center and the Child Evaluation Center at McLaren Regional Medical Center in Flint in February.
Four students and Ms. Cornell drove to Hurley and McLaren to deliver the completed quilts and received a warm reception at both hospitals.
At McLaren, Dr. Ed Gullekson and a social worker at the CEC, talked to the students about the medical profession and gave them a tour of the facility and clinic which deals with children who have been abused.
“The doctor told us that the kids at the center who receive the blankets will have the comfort of them for the rest of their lives,” said Ms. Cornell. “When the four students returned, they shared the information with the rest of the class. It had a trickle down effect.”
In the next trimester class which began this week, Ms. Cornell said she is planning to have the next class create teddy bears for the CEC at McLaren.
Students sometimes need a little financial help in buying the material needed for the class and Ms. Cornell said donations of material are accepted at school. Donations of money or material can be made by calling Ms. Cornell at Lapeer West at (810) 667-2423.
