Elementary school students knit, give back to community

Inside the art room at the Donna Kirby School Age Center, elementary school students spend their afternoons talking and knitting.

"It's like seeing an old knitting group," art teacher Sabrina Jones said.

The students, most of whom attend Fort Knox elementary schools, have learned the ins and outs of knitting over the past few months and have used the knowledge to give back to the community. They recently knitted 36 hats to donate to Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville.

"That's good for a short time," said Anja Brouillard, another art teacher at the center.

The hats were dropped off over the weekend.

Brouillard worked with Jones to teach the students about knitting, but after they got the students started, Brouillard said they would teach one another.

"They picked it up quick," she said. "It taught them how to work together … I'm proud of this group."

The project started a few months ago when Myla Brown, a fifth-grader at Radcliff Elementary, asked about learning to knit.

Brouillard said they started slow with scarves and then moved on to hats. At first, the students took about six to eight hours to make a baby hat, but now, they've reduced the time to about two hours.

Myla holds the record for making the most hats, she said.

Other students in the art group said they enjoyed knitting and helping people.

"We'll be saying that's our hats," said Keila Carman, a fourth-grader at Van Voorhis Elementary.

She added the hats were important to protect their heads from the cold.

"So they could be warm," added Aaliyah Aiken, also a fourth-grader at Van Voorhis.

Knitting continues at the center, the students said. However, they've moved on to making bigger hats, and pillow cases.

"The yarn box is a mess," said Jones.