Jayson Lee, a freshman at Poolesville High School, has piloted a project that is uplifting his community. The student-led Diamond Clover Heart Pillow Project aims to donate 500 handmade pillows to those recovering from surgery and children in foster care.
When asked about the inspiration for the project, Lee told MyMCM, “It all started during the pandemic, when I started with High Schoolers for Front Liners. They had an area where we created heart pillows. When I donated, I saw loneliness in all of the patients’ eyes. I decided to continue with my own project, and so far I have created roughly 300 pillows.”
Within his leadership role, Lee has led the Clarksburg Helping Hands through the trials of the project. The club has donated its first batch of pillows to children at Comfort Cases in Rockville and post-operation patients at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda.
“We are helping out the community a lot, especially those who are having trouble feeling like themselves after an operation. They may be in a lot of pain as well, and our heart pillows are designed to help remind them that there are people who care about them,” Lee said.
On a mission to make as many heart pillows as possible, Lee and his club will hold a workshop on April 16 at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood. The workshop will teach people how to cut, sew, and stuff pillows that will be donated in future batches. Students will also receive three SSL hours for participation.
The project is intended to continue even after meeting its goal.
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the free workshop. Additionally, donations for the heart pillows can be made to the Clarksburg Helping Hands Club.
