Fifty students from Alta Vista Elementary School in Sarasota are scheduled to board a bus at 9 a.m., Friday, May 18, to deliver 100 blankets they created to comfort cancer patients at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, the Sarasota County Public Schools has announced.
The project, nicknamed “Alta Vista Cares Sew Much,” began in early May when the students started sewing fleece blankets after school. Students who didn’t participate in the sewing brought in coins to contribute to the cost of materials for the blankets, a district news release notes.
“It’s important to teach our students the importance of giving back to others who have much greater needs than themselves,” said Principal Barbara Shirley in the news release. “We have had tremendous support from our volunteers who helped prepare the fabric so the students can make the blankets. The students love the idea that, because we care ‘sew’ much, our warm hearts will keep others warm. It’s a wonderful service learning project and a great collaboration with All Children’s Hospital.”
Alta Vista Elementary is located at 1050 South Euclid Ave., Sarasota. All Children’s Hospital is at 501 6th Ave. S., St. Petersburg.