Dozens of school children in Chelmsford have sent messages of love and comfort to patients at Sudbury's Northeast Cancer Centre, one stitch at a time.
Roughly 60 students from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School (CVDCS) have donated hand-knitted blankets to the cancer centre that will be distributed to new patients that arrive there.
The students at CVDCS formed a "blanket club" under the guidance of teachers Francine Portelance and Kaitlin Graham. In recent months, the students would gather before classes and during their breaks to knit squares or panels for their individual blankets.
This is the third year for the project at the school. Teacher Portelance talked about how the project began.
"Well, somebody told me that they had gone to the cancer center and received a blanket as part of the care package," she said.
She said that's when it was realized it would be a good project for the children.
"And the kids understood that a person that has cancer and needing treatments would be probably feeling scared, and not feeling well, and so they probably could use some comfort. And feeling that people are thinking about them and care about them," said Portelance.
She said in the first year, before the COVID-19 pandemic, students created one blanket. Last year, when the students were allowed to associate with each other after the March break, they created five blankets. This year, the students created 28 blankets, said Portelance.
Along with the social awareness of helping people who are sick, Portelance said the children loved learning a new skill and doing something they could share with others.
"It's comforting to them. It keeps their hands busy, and it's not screen time, so they're chatting, and it's the community. And it's the communication, which is kind of lacking today, I think. It's actually quite a pleasant time," said Portelance.
She added that the project also allowed many of the children to reconnect with their grandparents because knitting was something that grandparents knew about. Portelance said many of the grandparents were also pleased to donate yarn and knitting needles.
CVDCS principal Patrick Hopkin was also pleased with the project for what it provides to the patients and to the students.
“Each blanket serves as a hug for a patient in need, keeping them warm and supported during a difficult time in their lives,” said Hopkin.
“Students feel good knowing they are providing comfort to others, while learning a skill that will last a lifetime.”
Len Gillis covers health care stories as well as the mining industry for Sudbury.com,
