It was last fall when senior Matt Wesley was injured in an accident at football practice. Projects to lift Wesley’s morale, however, are still going strong.

Home Economics Teacher, Mrs. Kim Modrowski, with the help of a few fellow teachers, started a collection of t-shirts to make a quilt for Wesley.

“It’s a friendship quilt. You can also call it a memory quilt,” Mrs. Modrowski said.

The keepsake friendship quilt is to be made out of old t-shirts. Students have been asked to bring in old t-shirts to add to the quilt. The t-shirt does not need to have anything to do with LC or Matt; any t-shirt that is special to students will do.

“I’m bringing in my Wesley T-shirt that we had made for him. It has his number on it; I want it to go to good use,” Tony Morang, senior football player said.

Ideally, when students drop off their t-shirts, they will write a message to Matt along with their signature.

“We’re trying to catch kids when they drop the t-shirt off,” Mrs. Modrowski said. “We want them to autograph the front of the t-shirts.”

Words of encouragement, little messages and inside jokes will make his gift extra special.

The idea was first brought to the attention of Mrs. Modrowski when a cousin of Wesley’s, currently residing in Montana, e-mailed her. The idea is to get many of Wesely’s classmates to turn in t-shirts that will be sent to her. She will then make the quilt for Wesley.

“It’s really a testament to what the Wesley’s have said about us [LC],” Mrs. Modrowski said.

Originally, the idea was to ask each member of the football team to turn in a t-shirt, but it was decided that the opportunity to support Matt would be opened to the rest of the student body as well.

“Why just make it the football team? Everyone should get a chance to give a t-shirt,” Mrs. Modrowski said. “We thought it would be a good idea to include girls. Girls are so good at this kind of thing.”

Posters have been hung on walls all around the school, and announcements have been made. However, there’s been a significant lack of response from students.

“Just do it,” Mrs. Modrowski said. “This is for Matt.”

“It’s for a good cause. It will help out Matt, and he’ll be able to look back to see all the people who supported him through it all,” Morang said.

T-shirts can be turned in before or after school to Mrs. Modrowski in room V101, Mrs. Verpooten in room S103 or Mrs. Bruns in room V103. All shirts should be turned in by today.