Sledding and....sewing?

Winter church camp is a lot about worship services, playing in the snow and hanging out with your friends. But some junior and senior high students at Camp Friedenswald this winter also spent time making comforters that will help keep others warm around the world.

For a number of years, Camp Friedenswald, located in Cassopolis, Michigan, has organized winter retreats for junior and senior high youth groups. This year, Jason Harrison, program director, decided to add an element of service to the retreats.

Michelle Norman, material resource coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Great Lakes, organized a service project where the students were involved in all steps of the process of making comforters

Although one might not expect junior and senior high youth to get overly excited about sewing, there was a really positive response. "Kids and sponsors were both really enthusiastic," said Norman. "They were involved in the whole process, from cutting squares, designing blocks, doing the layout, knotting, sewing and binding the comforters."

Using borrowed sewing machines, the youth were indeed involved every step of the way. During one hour sessions, the groups did everything from decorating the squares to actually sewing together the comforters.

For many of them, seeing the strips of fabric with their own designs turn into finished comforters was something they could be proud of. "In the evaluations after camp, many people said it was good to do something service-related at camp," said Norman.

Through MCC programs and partners, these blankets are shipped to places like Sudan and North Korea where they are distributed to those who need them most.

To follow the story of eight MCC blankets and the lives they touch, visit mcc.org/blankets.