Quilts on Display in Memory of Rotarian William C. Nester

Beverly Nester, wife of the late Bill C. Nester, and several LIS students visit the Mercer County Library on Darrah Lane where 7 large quilts made by LIS Students as part of a HOOT Community Service Project are on display through September. The HOOT grant was funded by the LTEF in honor of Rotarian Bill C. Nester thanks to a $5,000 donation by the Lawrence Rotary Club.

The first recipient of the Lawrence Township Education Foundation (LTEF) Service above Self Grant has completed its project and the results are on display at the Mercer County Library in Lawrence . This award, given in memory of local community volunteer William C. Nester, rewards programs in the Lawrence Township Public Schools that encourage young people to recognize the value of service to their community. This past school year, the award was given to the H.O.O.T program at Lawrence Intermediate School. The fourth grade students, in conjunction with the guidance department and parent volunteers, spearheaded the service-learning project, Helping Out Others Together (HOOT), with involvement from the whole school.

Over a two-week period, LIS 4th grade students worked on five service projects, in areas they "give a hoot" about. Food was collected for the Lawrence Neighborhood Center food bank, as well as a collection of treats, collars, leashes and old towels and sheets for local animal shelter. Students also had the opportunity to decorate squares that were sewn into quilts by parent volunteers. The seven quilts are currently on display through September at the Mercer County Library on Darrah lane, and will be donated to Morris Hall and the Lawrence Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

"The H.O.O.T. effort is one that 4th graders are very proud of and will remember with fondness as they look back on their years at LIS," says grant writer Patti Esser, the 4th grade LIS guidance counselor during the H.O.O.T. project.

The Service above Self Award was made possible by a grant to LTEF from the Lawrence Rotary in honor of Bill Nester, who was an active Rotarian as well as a founding member of the Lawrence Township Education Foundation. Mr. Nester is remembered as a tireless volunteer who made a real difference to the Lawrence community.