Students in Mrs. Teressa Bilger’s Crafts class display the T-shirt rugs they created and donated to the Huntingdon County Humane Society. Pictured (back row, left to right) are Ann Varner, Braelyn Rodgers, Zariyah Bowie-Worrell, Isaac Miller, (front row, left to right) Lila Pratt, Julianne Hancock, Eden Detwiler, Zuri Nieves, and Lynx Hartman.
By GIULIA WHITESEL | Journalism Student, Mount Union Area Senior High School
Mount Union, Pa. — Students in Mrs. Teressa Bilger’s Crafts class upcycled old T-shirts and turned them into rugs for dogs and cats at the Huntingdon County Humane Society.
Mrs. Bilger has been an art teacher at Mount Union for 23 years, and this was her first year completing a project like this for the Humane Society. While this was a new donation effort, her students have worked with recycled materials in the past, including creating circular rugs using hula hoops and recycled T-shirts.
Mrs. Bilger explained how the idea came about, saying, “I brought one home for my cat to try, and he loved it! So, I thought the dogs and cats at the Humane Society might like them as well.”
To make the rugs, students wove the T-shirt material using a handmade loom. Custodian Pete Swanger assisted with the project by cutting 2×4 lumber into 36-inch pieces and cutting dowel rods. Students then assembled the loom themselves. Once the loom was completed, they began the lengthy process of cutting T-shirts into yarn.
The T-shirts used for the project were donated to the art room last year by students in Mrs. Marjorie Biddle’s class as part of a community service project. Creating the looms and preparing the materials proved to be a challenge for the Crafts students. However, knowing the rugs were going to a good cause motivated them to complete the project.
In the future, Crafts students will also make rugs to take home for their own pets. Mrs. Bilger expressed her pride in her students, stating, “I am very pleased with my Crafts class. They worked hard to first build the loom, then make the T-shirt yarn, and finally weave. They put a lot of work into this project. Instead of taking them home, they are donating them. I have a wonderful group of students who are willing to try new things in art.”
Crafts student Ann Varner shared that she is grateful for the opportunity to help the Humane Society. When asked if she would encourage other Mount Union students to join the Crafts class, she said, “Yes, it is very fun, and you get to do things like help the animals and visit the shelter.”
The Huntingdon County Humane Society is grateful for the donation, and the Crafts class is proud to help keep the pets comfortable and happy.
This article was published as part of Ms. Dimoff’s Journalism class at Mount Union Area Senior High School.
Leave a Reply