Dataw Island Quilts for Kids:

Penn Center children to be gifted handmade works of art to snuggle with at naptime

For the ninth year, Dataw members are quilting for kids. Children ages 8 weeks to 4 years old who attend Penn Center’s PACE Early Childhood Program are about to receive hand-crafted quilts to use at naptime.

About ten years ago, the ladies of the Dataw Island Quilters club learned that many children who the Penn Center was serving were napping with old beach towels. Almost immediately the group got to work measuring, cutting, stitching, batting, and binding 25 quilts. Since then, they have provided about 10 quilts per year. This year, due to increased enrollment, the group of 25 crafters will contribute almost 50 quilts to the Center, as well as a quilted alphabet wall-hanging.

But first, Dataw Islanders will gather to enjoy the art of the quilt. The pieces are being displayed at the Dataw Island Community Center, kicking off with an opening reception being held from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on April 10 and running through April 14. The opening reception for "Quilts for Penn Center PACE Early Childcare Program" will be attended by Dr. Tonya Allen-Jenkins, Penn Center Director of Education, who has been a long-time partner in coordinating this community effort.

It is under Allen-Jenkins’ leadership that the Penn Center program has grown and evolved from what started as a daycare into a full-fledged educational program known as the “Penn Center PACE Early Childcare Program.” The program will continue to serve St. Helena Island children by providing a learning environment that enhances the academic, cultural, physical, social- emotional, cognitive, linguistic and creative development of children. The program’s goal is to build a strong foundation for each child to build upon, leading to a lifetime of educational and personal growth and success.

Dataw Quilter Susan Jorgensen said that the need this year is greater than ever, with more children enrolled in the education program.

“We just love that we are able to contribute to these kids’ education in our own small way,” Jorgensen said. “State law mandates that each child must have a blanket for naptime, and we love the opportunity to provide this.”

The group of quilters also raised money to purchase a washer and dryer for the Penn Center program, stating that it is also a law that each blanket mush be washed weekly, which can be a hardship on some families who do not have a washer and dryer at home.

“This is a very worthwhile and much needed project,” says Jorgensen. “We have fun on these work days being creative and helping each other----all for a positive end!”

Jorgensen also said that Allen-Jenkins is compiling a "wish list" of items needed for the new childcare program, which the Dataw Island Quilters club look forward to helping fulfill.

“A stimulating daycare program is so important to a young mind's development, and we want to help accomplish that,” closes Jorgensen.

View photos of the opening reception and the quilts by Clicking Here.