Collinsville teen Joy Kitchens is bringing smiles to the faces of pediatric patients in the intensive care unit at Children ’ s of Mississippi through her pillowcase service project , “ Joy to You .” Top Right : Kitchens sews a colorful pillowcase for her missions project in a work room set up at Collinsville Methodist Church , where her father is the pastor . Bottom Right : Each colorful , whimsical pillowcase comes with a “ Joy to You ” tag .
Being able to make the pillowcases requires a lot of fabric , and Kitchens said she was extremely grateful for a generous donation by local resident , Cathy Harper , who has provided her with fabric ideal for the pediatric pillowcases .
“ We have to have obviously a lot of fabric to be able to make all of these pillowcases , and a lady donated all of this beautiful fabric to us ,” Kitchens said . “ She said she loved collecting fabric because it made her happy .’’
The colorful pillowcases come packaged in plastic zipper bags with a “ Joy to You ” card explaining that they have been prayed over by members of the Meridian District of the Global Methodist Church .
“ We are very proud of her ,” said her father , Ron Kitchens , pastor at Collinsville Methodist Church and presiding elder over the Global Methodist Church ’ s six-county Meridian District . “ We ’ ve always been very involved in missions and this is a wonderful missions project .”
Amy Kitchens said her daughter is very dedicated to the project , working for hours on her sewing . She hopes the missions work is teaching Kitchens about kindness and the importance of giving back to the community .
“ When I was younger , my mom would sew all of these really ruffly , fancy little outfits , and then I just sort of got into it from that and then with the 4-H program as well ,” Kitchens said of how she started sewing seven or eight
Joy Kitchens holds up one of the pillowcases she has made for the intensive care unit floor at Children ’ s of Mississippi , formerly Blair Batson , the state ’ s only children ’ s hospital . years ago .
Homeschooled , Kitchens is very active in Lauderdale County 4-H , along with her older brother John Clayton and younger brother Jacob . She also plays the piano and took ballet from a dance company in Jackson for 13 years .
Sewing isn ’ t the only area she likes to compete in for 4-H ; she also enjoys public speaking and forestry . She recently was elected state 4-H parliamentarian , while John Clayton currently serves as state 4-H president .
“ It teaches them so many different things and it allows them to be able to do so many different things ,” Amy Kitchens said of the lessons her children are learning through the Lauderdale County 4-H .
For example , she said , Kitchens and
John Clayton are part of a 4-H forestry team , along with fellow members Josie Thompson and Samuel Davidson , that is coached by Ray and Jennifer Henderson and their daughter , Ashlyn Henderson .
“ They won the forestry state contest and now they are going to West Virginia July 19 to compete nationally ,” she said . “ 4-H opens up so many different worlds of opportunity .”
Kitchens agrees about the benefits she has received from participating in 4-H .
“ I have learned many , many things ,” she said . “ I have learned to encourage others and to never give up but to try to do your best because you can never stop at average . If you keep your mind at something , you are going to be able to do it .” M www . meridianstar . com
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