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by Suzi Taylor
From the 1998-99 4-H Clover Project Selection Guide
When Kelsie Eggensperger of Thompson Falls went to 4-H Congress in Memphis over Thanksgiving 1996, she came back with a spark of an idea.
During Congress, Kelsie had participated in a service project called "Cozy Coats" in which 60 kids sewed 150 coats for the Memphis YWCA. The coats, created with donated fabric, notions, equipment and time, were to be distributed to kids who needed some warm clothes for the winter. The project was originally thought up by a home economics class in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kelsie came home from Congress, determined to start her own Cozy Coats project. She applied for, but did not receive, a grant, and became discouraged. But not for long...a year later, helped by donations from the community, the Cozy Coats project was off and running. Kelsie organized two sewing days this year, in which 20 4-H'ers and 10 leaders got together to create 30 polar fleece coats to be distributed through the Sanders County Office of Public Assistance. Kelsie also collected $1300 worth of money and materials from business and clubs throughout the county.
"It's really a 'for kids/by kids' kind of thing," says Kelsie, who has been in 4-H for eight years. "It's a big project. It takes a lot of time, but it's worth it in the end."
She has big plans for the project, including incorporating it as part of annual fashion revues, so clothing-minded kids who are waiting around for their turn can be working on creating coats. Also, Kelsie would like to do workshops at next year's Congress and at the leader's forum, so other people around the state can start their own Cozy Coats group. When she graduates from high school, she plans to hand off the project to her project assistant, Anna Ivers.
"I think it really makes a difference and helps out other people," says Kelsie. "It helps needy kids, and I believe in sharing your skills with other people."
For more information, call Kelsie at 827-4991.
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