Grandma Bertha uses quilting to teach letters

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News Grandma Bertha helps kindergarten student Mackenzie Rose with her fabric squares at the recent Quilting Bee project.

MANTON — When Grandma Bertha walks down the halls of Manton Elementary School, children often stop to give her a big hug.

As part of the Senior Volunteer Program, Bertha Vincent has been working at Manton Elementary School for eight years as a Foster Grandparent. Her job is to work one-on-one with students who need individual attention.

“Everybody loves Grandma Bertha,” stated Julie Harmon, curriculum secretary. “It’s because she brings a very calming and loving touch. The kids light up when they see her.”

Last year Bertha came up with an idea to help her kindergarten students learn the letter Q.

As she was quilting at home, she looked around at all her scraps of material and had an idea. Why not have a quilting bee for the children, focusing on the letter Q.

And so Bertha cut out 900 squares of material.

“We are having a quilting party,” she announced to the students in Ellen Bongard’s class on Tuesday as she showed them how to glue each of their nine fabric squares onto a large square piece of paper.

When each student is finished, the squares will be “quilted” together to form a large paper quilt for their classroom.

“They really do well with this project,” explained Bertha, “because it’s fun. They like the feel of the material. They are learning how to choose and how to arrange stuff. They can arrange their own fabric colors the way they want.”

Bongard said that having Bertha in the classroom was a tremendous help.

“This means that they get more individual attention. There are only so many you can get to and she’s so patient. She has the wisdom of the ages.”

For Bertha, this job, she said, is her life.

“I have a husband and great grandkids but helping the children here, helping the teachers means I’m helping our society. I’m investing in these children. So many of them just don’t have the help at home. I’m going to be there for them. I can sit down with them and help them feel good about themselves and encourage them.”

And Bertha had a message to any grandmothers sitting at home.

“Any grandma sitting home needs to get off their duff and check this out through the Catholic Human Services. I love this job. They couldn’t drag me out of here.”

Your local connection

The Senior Volunteer Program of Northwest Michigan offers a Foster Grandparent Program. Through this program, the children, the volunteer and the community benefit. Senior volunteers are 60 or older and live on a limited income of 125 percent or less of the federal poverty guideline. They are in good physical and mental health and have a physical exam to verify this. Reference checks are completed along with a criminal background check. Volunteers also complete orientation training of 40 hours before being assigned. Programs are designed to tap the talents, skills and knowledge of the volunteer. For information, call Sheryl Gladstone at 775-6581, ext. 14.

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