For the past eight years, Sharon Scharf’s home economics class has made baby quilts for the Pregnancy Care Center’s downtown center for expectant mothers. The Pregnancy Care Center is a place for young women who have chosen not to abort their children can go to receive help.

“They love to see us come and support them,” Scharf said. “They think it is neat to see teenagers make them. They are really simple quilts; anyone with a little bit of sewing knowledge can make one.”

Creating the baby blankets takes place during the 2-hour final during finals week. The students arrange into groups of two or three people.

Gerald Bell, ’10, believes in helping people and says the blankets are not difficult to make, partially due to having partners.

“I feel that it is neat that we help people in need,” Bell said. “Everyone needs help at some point in their life, so it is a good idea to help mothers in need because one day we may need help also. We use the skills we have learned over the whole year to assist the young mothers.”

The students are provided with the materials and time needed to make the blankets. Many think helping out is a great way to spend class time because they apply skills for an important cause.

“I think making these baby quilts and donating the to the Pregnancy Care Center is a great way to spend our class time,” Abigail Wendel, ’09, said. “I have enjoyed learning to sew this year and using it to benefit others who do not have the same opportunities as I have makes it even more enjoyable.”

Although not allowing students to count the hours spent on the blanket as community service, Sharf recommends the students designate the work as a service project on college applications.

Michelle Graham, ’11, recognizes the need for the service and appreciates her opportunity to help.

“I think what we are doing is really good,” Graham said. “We are helping women with newborn babies. Some of the new moms don’t have much and even something small, like a baby quilt, means a lot to them.”

“What we are doing shows that we care about their decision to keep the baby. I like that they have a center for people like this, who are reconsidering having a baby and avoiding abortion.”

Scharf will deliver the blankets to expectant mothers on the week of May 25-31.