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Jackson Middle School students donate handmade quilts to Mid-Ohio Valley shelters

By Douglass Huxley 3 min read

VIENNA -- Jackson Middle School seventh-graders got a visit from members of the Eve Shelter in Marietta Friday after donating 70 handmade quilts to the shelter.

Tonya Wentz, shelter coordinator, and Mary Jo Duskey, regional advocate and sexual assault intervention coordinator, spoke to students throughout the school day about the different types of domestic violence, the signs to look for and how to get help if abuse is happening.

"I really appreciate having the opportunity to come," Duskey said. "I wasn't sure what to expect, because this is one of the youngest groups I've done this with, and they've been very receptive to it, they've asked a lot of intelligent questions and they've been really engaged in all of it. They were a lot more attentive and involved than I expected."

Cherish George's seventh grade lass does a philanthropy project each year before Christmas break. This year a student suggested they do something for the Eve Shelter because his mother was a survivor of domestic violence.

"One of our fellow students had to go to the shelter," seventh-grader Chloe Mulligan said. "And he brought it up in class one day. And she (George) started telling the other classes and we all agreed that we wanted to help families in need, like the shelter helped him and his family."

Students then decided they wanted to make quilts for those entering the shelter.

"We thought that blankets would be good because usually they don't have enough time to grab anything," seventh-grader Taylor Haught said. "And blankets would be a good comfort thing."

"We wanted to do something for whoever it is, men, women, children, because most of the people go to the shelter scared from what they've been through," 7th grader Ella Collins said. "So something they could hold on tight through their worries, and keep them safe."

Students then began to gather material to cut, craft and create their quilts. They wrote a personal message on each finished product.

"On the blankets we wrote, 'In a time of need, give this blanket a squeeze,'" 7th grader Benson DeBoard said.

The students created 70 quilts and blankets to give to the shelter.

"For me personally, anytime something like that happens it restores my faith in humanity," Duskey said. "Especially such a young group of students who thought of trying to help survivors of domestic violence. And as an agency, it's very appreciated because we run on grant funding. So, we don't always have money to go out and buy everything as it's needed."

Duskey said any community involvement is appreciated but to have it come from such a young group shows the shelter's efforts are making a difference. She said she understands not every student is going to retain all of the information they shared with them but hopes they remember no one knows someone needs help unless they ask for it.

"There's a lot of help out there once you do," Duskey said. "The stigma from abuse is what keeps so many people quiet but therein lies the problem. Silence just helps the abuser. So I hope something we said today sticks with them so they know 'You don't deserve this. It's no one's fault but the abuser's.' But you have to speak up to get help."

The Eve Shelter will be sharing the 70 quilts with the Family Crisis and Prevention Center in Parkersburg.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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