Lily Lake Fourth-Graders Give Back with Donation to Valley Outreach

About 90 fourth-graders at had the opportunity to knit more than 100 washcloths and then donate them to families in need thanks to a grant from .

Three classrooms of students dropped off the washcloths and about 180 pounds of food at Valley Outrach Tuesday. The students then took a tour of the nonprofit's , and Dawn's Closet.

The service project was made possible by a grant from The Partnership Plan and help from Darn Knit Anyway, Fourth Grade Teacher Danielle Johnson said.

The service project came about last fall when she applied for a grant through The Partnership Plan, she said. That grant allowed gave each student a bag, yarn and knitting needles.

In January, the students then went to where they started working on the service project with various community members who taught them how to knit.

The students worked on the project during class, and some of them enjoyed it so much they brought it home and worked on the washcloths on weekends, Johnson said.

"It was really cool to see the kids connect with people from older generations, who taught them a skill they may not have otherwise picked up on," Johnson said. "They really enjoyed doing this project."