Tilsit 4-H club wins national recognition

The Tilsit 4-H Club was recognized for its community efforts with one of 60 national Colgate Awards.

The Colgate Award, given each year by the Youth for America Campaign, recognizes community service projects done by 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire USA, Girls Inc. and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

This year the Tilsit 4-H Club saw a need for weighted blankets for autistic children at the Missouri Department of Mental Health Sikeston Regional Center. Club members held fund-raising events to buy materials to make the blankets and vests. A local hotel donated bedding, and local printing shops donated leftover T-shirts and sweatshirts to use for weight inside the blankets.

The club made 52 weighted blankets and vests, which are used to calm autistic and hyperactive children when they become agitated or anxious.

Members did everything from ripping material into strips to sewing the blankets and vests together. The club plans to continue the project next year.