RLCC Senior makes 21 quilts for Fargo Neonatal Unit

Sami Smith, a senior at RLCC High School, has turned a hobby of sewing into a community service project.

While sewing a blanket for a baby she babysits, her sister, Stephanie, who is a nurse in Fargo, ND, mentioned there was a need for baby blankets at the hospital where she is employed. With generous donations from her family and with the help of her Grandma, Ardelle Olson, cutting all the fabric, Sami began sewing blankets over her Christmas break from school.  

Sami sewed 15 blankets over the Christmas break and has since completed 6 more, for a total of 21 blankets. Each blanket takes approximately 4 hours to complete. 

Sami’s sister, Stephanie, is a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Fargo, ND, and has delivered five blankets so far.  The balance of the blankets will be delivered as needed.

Sami said, “This project far exceeded my expections!  When I started, I didn’t expect to be sewing twenty-one blankets, but the project just kept increasing. Altogether, I have worked over 80 hours making these blankets. A lot of work was put into these blankets, and I am so proud to be helping babies and their families in need. This is an on-going project that I hope to continue”.

Sami is the daughter of Jon and Sue Smith of Oklee.