Fourth and fifth grade girls attending Hereford Elementary School have volunteered their time and energy for over 10 years in order to learn the art of sewing for a cause.

        Thanks to volunteers and employees of the school, the group of 25 girls, known as the Hereford Quilters, are able to learn sewing skills, apply color theory, express their creativity and use their math knowledge.

        For 10 years the group has been led by the school's art teacher, Norma Reichenbach, but an unexpected leave of absence brought elementary school employee Christine Schmoyer in to fill her shoes.

        According to Schmoyer, the Hereford Quilters are focused on community service and Reichenbach has always been the heart and soul of the group.

        Last year, under Reichenbach's supervision, the group donated 32 baby quilts and 57 small teddy bears to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

        Over the last 10 years the group has donated nearly 400 charitable items to several different organizations. This year's group is continuing to make baby quilts and teddy bears but has broadened its ideas to outside the country.

        The quilters decided to sell whatever items they created and donate the money raised to a cause picked by the group. They collectively decided on Reverse the Course, an organization founded by 18-year-old Mary Grace Henry of New York. Henry's mission is to raise money to fund secondary education for girls living in extreme poverty with the primary focus in sub-Saharan Africa. Henry taught herself to sew at the age of 12, creating reversible headbands, and began selling them to raise money for those underprivileged girls. Over the last six years she has sold more than 16,000 items.

        "I supported Reverse the Course because I wanted girls who wouldn't have a chance to receive a good education to be able to go to school. I think it's pretty cool that a 12-year-old believed so strongly that every girl should have a chance to go to school and then did what she felt called to do," said Natalie Landis, fifth grader in her second year of the quilting program.

        As fourth grader and first-year quilter Jovia Kinsler puts it, "I feel like a hero by helping poor girls who don't get as much care as we do."

        The Hereford Quilters felt that they were blessed to have their education and that others should have the same opportunity, Schmoyer explained. "Africa is a million miles away to these students, but education is just as important there as it is at home. Our group of girls felt that it was important to give girls an opportunity."

        "It feels good, helping the girls get what they need," said Riley Eden, fourth grader and first year quilter.

        Since the beginning of the school year, the quilters created items ranging from hand-sewn Christmas ornaments to aprons to baby blankets and quilts. During school events, like the Hereford and Marlborough school bazaars, members of the group volunteered their time to set up tables and sell their work.

        In addition to the items made by the quilters, Eleanor Anselmo, an associate of the group and friend of Reichenbach, donated many hand-crafted items to be sold.

        "Rather than focusing on the price of the ornaments, we focused on what their purchase would do," Schmoyer explained.

         The quilters set a steep goal for themselves; they hope to support three girls. One year of education, meals for a year, and two uniforms apiece  for all three girls would total $3,600. So far the funds raised for Reverse the Course total $1,489.17 and are just over 40 percent of the group's goal – enough to cover expenses for one girl.

        "It's a really great program, I think, that helps girls who don't have as much as I do, get what they need to live a good life. It makes me feel like I am a part of something big in someone's life," said Maeve Busedu, a fifth grader and second-year Hereford Quilter.

        Many of the participants in the after school program came to the group with some sewing experience but wanted to enhance their skills by using machines and learning different styles of stitching.

        According to Schmoyer, the sewing machines used were donated from the high school and some from the middle school after the Home Economics classes were dissolved in the district. All other supplies, such as fabric, thread and batting are donated by members of the community. The Hereford PTFS (Parents and Teachers for Students) organization also awards money each year to be used for repairs to the sewing machines.

        "I enjoyed sewing on my mom's old machine. Then my mom found out about the Hereford Quilters and I thought it would be fun to learn how to sew," explained Kyra Schmoyer, a fifth grader in her third year as a quilter. "It's really important to me because we are really making a difference. We are just fourth and fifth graders. I never thought I would accomplish something like this when I was in fifth grade. It's great to be a girl and help another girl get an education."

        The Hereford Quilters are committed to helping others that are less fortunate and as Schmoyer explained, "The reason they were able to raise as much as they did was because they used their voice to talk about what was important to them. They spoke passionately about supporting the girls in Africa and helping to provide their education. I think that this is only the beginning of wonderful things these members will do in their lives."

        For more information regarding the Hereford Quilters or how to make a donation, contact Christine Schmoyer through email at HerefordQuilters@gmail.com.