Helping Cancer Patients in Morgan County, MO

Community issue: Averee, a 4-H’er from Morgan County, Missouri, had a grandmother who passed away recently from cancer. Seeing how many people battling cancer or other serious illnesses spend many days in pain, she wanted to do something to help brighten their day while letting them know they are not alone.

How it was addressed: Nine-year-old Averee decided to use the skills she learned from a 4-H project to start sewing colorful pillowcases to give to children staying in the local hospital for cancer treatment. She took all the money she received from selling her blue ribbon hen and ham at the 4-H County fair auction to buy fabric to start the project in September 2011.

 Results: Averee spends much of her spare time sewing these pillowcases, and in just four months has sewn more than 350 bright and cheerful pillowcases for the children in the hospital. In doing this project, Averee has shown the community that it doesn’t matter what your age or skill is, you can always find a way to help others.

What happens next? Averee plans to continue this project for at least a year or more. She was recently interviewed on local news stations and has started to get many more requests for pillowcases. She now also receives donations to buy the necessary fabric as the demand has grown.

What does Averee have to say? “I'm happy to be able to make pillowcases for sick children. I want to give them sunshine and happiness on days they are not feeling well.”