Dexter Students Plan Fleece Drive Fundraiser for Area Hospitals

Students in Community Service and Leadership class are on a mission to bring a little joy to patients at local hospitals.

The students, led by instructor Val Berryman, are collecting fleece throughout the year to make blankets for patients at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and the Ann Arbor VA Hospital.

The fleece drive is in its second year and is one of many service projects, which teach seventh and eighth grade students the importance of leadership and team building.

Berryman said the drive was a huge success last year, yielding enough fleece for 50 blankets.

“Parents and community members were extremely generous,” Berryman said.

Students are hoping for the same community support for this year’s fleece drive and are asking anyone who is willing to donate fleece to the cause.  According to Berryman, one fleece blanket for the children's hospital requires 2 yards of fleece, 1 yard of baby-themed print (boy, girl or gender neutral) and 1 yard of a coordinating-colored fleece. A blanket for the VA hospital requires 1 1/2 yards of fleece for the front and 1 1/2 yards of a coordinating solid-colored fleece for the back. Advisors are asking for patriotic and military-themed prints for the VA blankets.

"We make the blankets once or twice per quarter in class,” Berryman said.  “Our plan this year is to do it at least twice each quarter."

The fleece drive will continue throughout the school year. All donations of fleece can be dropped off to Maryanne Mutschler or at the school's front office. For more information, e-mail mutschlm@dexterschools.org.