From left, Aleighya Smith, Amanda Rourke, Camryn Buckshot, Amber Rushlow with Gail Schneider and Linda Nowak.

MASSENA -- Students from Jefferson Elementary showed they care recently by donating their hand-made blankets to Massena Memorial Hospital during WMSA’s radiothhon with Sandy Cook.

Principal Duane Richards and Linda Nowak, teacher at Jefferson and volunteer coordinator of Jefferson Kids Care, brought several students to Massena Memorial to talk about the blankets they made.

“It was very fun to make the blanket and it felt satisfying to give someone who was in need of the blanket once we were finished with it,” said Camryn Buckshot.

Jefferson Kids Care is a volunteer after-school activity.

“Supplies are donated and teachers, parents and grandparents volunteer to work on this particular project,” said Nowak. Students learn to sew by hand and machine, tie fleece blankets and crochet squares. The completed “comforting covers” are donated in the community.

In each of the past six years, Jefferson Kids Care has donated about 10 blankets to the hospital as part of the radiothon. The school group also donates blankets to veterans at Veteran’s Day, to the St. Regis and Highland Nursing Homes, Renewal House, and to Hospice.

“We usually complete 20 to 30 blankets each year and a few are kept in school for use by our guidance counselors when students experience the loss of a parent,” said Nowak.