Willow Glen Resident

Education

St. Martin students use pounds of yarn to make baby blankets for giving program

By Mary Gottschalk

Andrew Packer's head is bent down as he concentrates on deftly wielding a crochet hook around a strand of cream-colored yarn.

"If you'd asked me a couple of days ago, I would have said I hated it, but now that I have the hang of it, I'm having a blast," says the 12-year-old.

Andrew, along with 36 fellow seventh-graders from throughout San Jose who attend St. Martin of Tours School, is crocheting a baby blanket.

Dylan Steele, 13, agrees with Andrew, saying, "In the beginning it was frustrating, but now it's more fun."

The baby blankets, each taking 1 pound of yarn and measuring 28-inches square when finished, will go to the Catholic Diocese of San Jose's Layette Program.

The baby blankets are part of St. Martin's annual Advent Novena of Prayer and Giving that students in kindergarten through eighth grade participate in during the three weeks before the Christmas break.

Sally Brosnan, who teaches religion to the seventh- and eighth-grade, oversees the program.

The first week, she says, students collected new and gently used backpacks, books, jackets and bicycles that were donated to Catholic Charities for distribution during the holidays.

The second week, Brosnan says, "is our Season of Sharing. Each class adopts a family, and each child takes home an angel with the name of a person in the family to buy a new gift for."

The third week, Brosnan says, students bring in baby items such as diapers, bottles, new clothing and baby blankets for the Layette Program.

Suzanne Murphy, the seventh-grade homeroom teacher and language arts instructor for seventh and eighth grades, came up with the idea of crocheting blankets last year.

"I wanted them to do what they're doing now," Murphy says, gesturing at a room full of students with heads bent down over their project, occasionally stopping to help one another.

"They're working together in a community setting. I wanted them to make something that would be different and teach them a new skill.

"Giving a gift card is good, but service learning is much better for you."

Murphy says five parents come in to help during the 40-minute period the students work on the blankets during four class periods a week.

However, Murphy stresses, "the kids are doing the work themselves."

Color choices are left up to each student.

Aqua green is the choice of Elizabeth Ramstad, 12.

"It works for boys and girls," Elizabeth says. "I've always liked green. It symbolizes nature and it's a good color for a baby to see when they wake up in the morning."

Stephanie Probst, 13, says she chose "blue, because my favorite color is blue."

Alex Jacobson, 12, also chose blue.

"I told my parents I wanted dark blue," Alex says.

Anyone who thinks crocheting is simply for girls needs to think again, say the St. Martin students.

"Everybody's doing it," Alex says. "We're having fun, and it's a good cause so no one is teasing anyone."

John McEnery, 13, says he finds crocheting fun.

"I also make friendship bracelets in different colors," John says. "I like doing this because I like to make stuff and I know I'm making it for someone that doesn't have a blanket."

Anthony Busco, 12, agrees.

"I think the people who are going to get it will be very happy with it," Anthony says.

John Lencioni, 12, echoes them both, saying, "It's special because you make it. You're not just buying something for them."

Lucile Bianco, the volunteer coordinator of the Layette Program, knows the people who receive the baby blankets are appreciative.

The local program was started in the 1950s when a Gilroy priest asked for baby blankets to give farm workers for their children.

From five women using remnants from a blanket factory, the concept expanded to creating complete layettes.

Bianco, who has been volunteering since 1992, says, "We do anywhere from 400 to as many as 600 a year."

Public health nurses distribute the layettes to pregnant women in need.

Each layette contains undershirts, gowns, sleepers, a sweater set, a crib blanket and three receiving blankets.

Although the baby blankets are their first crocheting projects, none of the St. Martin's students say they wish they could keep it.

"I'm OK with giving it away," says Kevin Schenk, 13. "It's better to give it to someone who needs it."

Katie Buchholz, 12, says that after learning to hold the hook right, she's been enjoying the crocheting.

"I know this is going toward a good cause, so I'm happy I'm doing it," Katie says.

However, she says she plans to make another one as a gift for her cousin expecting a baby.

Brosnan says, "We're trying to help the students to see we have so much, sometimes we don't realize others do not."