4-H Project Brings Warmth to Greene County Medical Center Extended Care Patients

Twelve-year-old Makenzie Wahl (back) donated hand-knit lap blankets to all Extended Care patients at Greene County Medical Center as part of a 4-H project. Pictured (front l to r): Connie Neese, Lois McAtee and Marilyn Peters.

JEFFERSON, Iowa – Twelve-year-old Makenzie Wahl, her mother Miranda and her great-grandmother Lois McAtee had such a great time finger knitting pumpkins at a class with Jolene Peters at Art on the Fly she decided to turn the craft into a 4-H project. Makenzie used what she learned to create lap blankets for the Extended Care patients at Greene County Medical Center. “I thought this would be a good idea for the hospital,” Makenzie said. “It’s a small project, but it is helping others.”

It took Makenzie about an hour to make each of the seven lap blankets. McAtee, Connie Neese and Marilyn Peters were all very grateful for the gift and the thoughtfulness behind it. McAttee added she is very proud of her great granddaughter. “We are fortunate that she wants to share with others. That’s the most important thing we do in our life is share with others,” she said.

Makenzie plans on continuing to work on finger knitting, possibly moving into creating full-size blankets in the future.

Extended Care Activity Director, Amber Reed, said this is the first donation of this kind made to the patients. Those interested in doing something similar can contact Reed at amber.reed@gcmchealth.com or by calling 515-386-0638.