Nap time at the Franklin Central School pre-kindergarten class is a little cozier thanks to donations from an area quilting group, school officials said Wednesday.
The 12 members of the class received quilts from the Night Owl Quilters of Hamden this summer, teacher Julie Shea said. The class had a party Wednesday to thank members of the group.
One of the quilters, Vera Buel, has a grandson in the class. A call she made earlier this year led to the donation, she said. She attended the party with group president Lisa Calaci.
"I was just flabbergasted that a group would want to donate not just one or two, but more than enough for every child," Shea said.
Normally students bring their own blankets, but sometimes people forget, Shea said. "This way, everyone is assured a blanket every afternoon at nap time."
The children chose their own quilts, some because of designs, she said.
"I love horsies," said 4-year-old Isabella Hotchkin, so she was glad to pick one with horses on it. "They are warm," she said.
Buel said as a program supervisor with Delaware County public health nursing, she understood the value of children being comforted. Calaci, an office assistant at Delaware Opportunities, said the group meets twice a month at the ARC of Delaware County resource building in Hamden.
The group works on two projects a year, she said. Twelve of the 25 club members worked on the tie quilts, donating the materials and their time.
In addition to the school project, the group is doing a quilt raffle for the local ARC this year, she said. Calaci said the club members enjoyed the school project so much, they could chose another school next year.
Franklin Principal Jason Thomson said the quilt is like a security blanket, which is perfect for this age. He said, "This is such a good example of how wonderful the people are in this community."
