Sheridan Byrd cut strips of fabric from an old t-shirt Wednesday, then tied them together to make a backpack.
?This is probably the most interesting thing we?ve done,? she as her nimble fingers tied the fabric. ?It?s unique and it gives you something to do with a shirt that?s too big or too small. I?ll probably use it to carry swim stuff.?
Sheridan, age 10, comes to Humanity House every day at 11 a.m. for Cool Crafts for Kids, then walks with the group to Iola High School for the USD 257 Summer Lunch Program. It gives her something to do during the summer.
Most years, Sheridan would have taken part in the SAFE BASE summer program. But a lack of funding forced Safe Base to cancel this year?s summer program. The after-school program will resume in the fall.
Faith Warden, from left, cuts strips of fabric for her backpack, with Jillian Trester, Milo Franklin and Indira Keagle.
Humanity House stepped up to fill the summer void. From 11 to noon each Monday through Thursday, children gather for crafts. Then they form a walking train to the school for lunch. There is no charge to participate in either program.
?We want to give kids something to do, get them out of the house and give the parents a break,? Humanity House?s Tracy Keagle said.
Lydia Holloway teaches the craft activities. It?s very similar to the role she plays at Safe Base for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
The crafts are simple, using things like old t-shirts, paper or felt. Participants are making books, pillows and paper cars. They?re learning to draw, crochet and sew.
Sheridan Byrd tries on her new backpack, made from an old T-shirt during Humanity House?s Cool Crafts for Kids class Wednesday.
Those activities teach important skills such as dexterity, Holloway said. But more importantly, the children are learning how to entertain themselves with items they can find around the house, instead of relying on television and electronics.
?Being able to make things for yourself gives you power,? Holloway said.
Keagle agreed. She likes to see how children of different ages help each other with projects and form new friendships. She also likes to see the unique ideas the children bring to the projects.
?It sparks creativity, so when they see something out in the world they know they can make something out of it,? Keagle said.
Kagle hopes to continue the crafts program until school begins. She also hopes Humanity House might be able to offer some sort of lunch alternative after the school?s summer lunch program ends in late July.
