Group Makes Dollhouses, Quilts for Needy Kids

CALHOUN COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A local group is making sure children in need have toys to play with this Christmas.

Calhoun County 4-H youth and volunteers have spent more than a year working on a special project – making quilts and finishing dollhouses.

“That could be painting them, it could be putting the roofs on them, it could be putting the little parts and accessories and windows in,” said Trent Barnett, 4-H youth agent.

Organizers say this project is helping some kids, all while teaching others special skills.

“People have taken their time to teach me how to do this, so I enjoy putting time into these quilts to greater benefit our community,” said C.J. Weddle, Vardaman High School.

The quilts will be donated to the children’s hospital in Jackson, and the dollhouses and barns will go to the families of local military heroes.

“We did nine to Columbus Air Force Base, and then we’re doing some dollhouses and barns to our local 858th National Guard unit who is deployed right now, currently in Afghanistan,” Barnett said.

“It’s real important,” said SFC Eugene Good. “A lot of folks of the soldiers deployed don’t have the necessary means to support their families while they’re being deployed.”

Those who helped out say giving back is a great feeling.

“It was fun to me because it made me think about, that I was giving back to the community, and giving children fun toys if they had a disaster in their life recently,” said Maggie Rennie, Calhoun City Middle School.

Organizers say last year, they donated the doll houses to Toys for Tots, and to kids who lost their homes and toys to house fires.