Project Linus Initiative: Driver Middle School Student Council

The Driver Middle School (DMS) Student Council, in conjunction with the DMS Yearbook student staff, completed a recent service learning project as they created twelve (12) large blankets for Project Linus. Project Linus is a national non-profit organization with a “two-fold mission”:

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers”.

Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

The Project Linus organization collects “homemade” blankets locally and distributes them to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, and “anywhere a child might be in need of a big hug.” The entire DMS Student Council, along with DMS Yearbook staff members Stephen Larison, Amelia Gonnella, Dylan Felty, Claire Hammerschmidt, Anna Smith, Josh Kianka, Kaitlin Bowen, Kaitlyn Heath, Morgan Lavy, Cora Bechteler, Emma Beaulieu, Natalia Dempsey, Kim Togni, Michael Clark, Hailey Fogg and Erica Balman raised more than $150 to purchase materials for the project. The students worked after school for three days to create twelve warm and comfortable blankets for children in need. Michelle Cappelletti, Student Council faculty advisor, delivered the student made blankets to the New Hartford Chapter of Project Linus on Saturday, January 16, 2010. New Hartford was the recipient of the blankets as they are the Project Linus chapter with the highest current need. Listed below are the DMS Student Council and Yearbook students who actually made the blankets.

Steve Hogan
Roxy Novak
Jordin Wentworth
Mike Clark
Tom Keegan
Connor Donovan
Telsea Fey
Ellen Fichera
Shelby Nye
Jackie MaddenClare Manahan