Even before many of their classmates are out of bed on a weekday morning, a handful of Scandia Elementary students are hard at work, braiding and beading bracelets for soldiers around the world.

ìWeíre making bracelets for the army and for soldiersí families,î said Maria Giorgi, a Scandia fifth grader. ìThe soldiers know that we are doing this for them and that we are thinking of them.î

Across the Forest Lake Area School District, students in the School Age Care program, or SAC, are taking part in a project to create ìFreedom Braceletsî for American soldiers stationed around the world.

Before and after school, students at all of the districtís elementary schools are busy braiding twine, creating heart shaped beads and tying up loose ends in an effort to show support for war heroes around the globe.

ìI think it is cool that the kids are making them,î said Becky Allen, a SAC program aide. ìTheyíve been doing this for more than a month and are still interested. It is exciting to see how much they care.î

The idea behind the bracelets came from a young girl in White Bear Lake, whose uncle is stationed over seas.

Janessa Alexis created the first bracelets of twine, yellow beads and red, white and blue hearts two years ago, when she was just 11-years-old.

The simple design symbolizes support for our troops - the yellow beads represent the people you love who are in harms way and the red, white and blue heart beads signify love and patriotism.

Since the bracelets were first designed, more than 100,000 have been sent to troops and their families.

Alexis has appeared on television, in magazine articles and has even traveled across the country to personally deliver bracelets to troops and their families.

The project became so big, the young girl had to recruit helpers to make more bracelets to keep up with the demand.
Thatís where the Forest Lake Area SAC program fits in. Alexisí aunt, Candace Tate, is a bus driver for the district.

Tate approached Scandia principal Marilyn Opp and asked if any students would be interested in helping make the bracelets.
Coordinators of the School Age Care program jumped on the idea and the response of students has been overwhelming.

Since joining in the project last month, students at all seven of the districtís elementary schools have created more than 600 Freedom Bracelets. Those bracelets and more will be sent to soldiers and their families.

ìThe bracelets are a symbol of family support, community support and unity,î said

Tani Riel, Scandia SAC site manager said, ìThis is a great service project for our students to be involved in. Weíll keep making the bracelets as long as the kids want to.î

To learn more about the Freedom Bracelet project, log-on to www.harmsway4kids.com.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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