Willow students show off their soft hearts

WILLOW — Students in Suzanne Bounds’ fourth- and fifth-grade class at Willow Elementary School collaborated with member of the Iditaquilters Guild of Willow to make and donate heart-shaped pillows to Reach For Recovery breast cancer patients.

Students cut construction paper patterns and guild members donated fabrics that they cut and sewed. Students stuffed the pillows with assistance from Melinda Dale of Iditaquilters, and Larkin and Suzanne Bounds. When they had made 87 pillows, the class heard from Carol Tillett of Reach For Recovery that the total number of pillows she had received from the Mat-Su community was 102.

Iditaquilter Ann Olinger challenged the group to beat that mark. She and the ladies sewed more pillows, which the students happily stuffed, and they exceeded their goal with 115 pillows, which were delivered Thursday.

If you or someone you know is a breast cancer patient who would be comforted by a pillow made by caring hands, or if you would like to make a pillow to donate, please contact Carol Tillett, Reach for Recovery Coordinator for the Mat-Su Valley, at cdtillett@gmail.com or 232-6632.