A student happily picked out her blanket collected during the "Blanket a Student with Love for Christmas" project.

BURTON -- About 240 students who attend Carman-Ainsworth Community School's Dillon Elementary had the chance to pick out a brand-new blanket before heading home on winter break.

It was all a part of the school's "Blanket a Student with Love for Christmas" project which is headed up by CACS Parent/Community Liaison Gwen Cousins. Cousins said this is the second year the project has continued.

Cousins said there has been an outpouring of support from the community, especially from local churches in the area. She added that Sharon Burdt, who was crowned as Ms. Senior Michigan 2024 also stopped by to drop off some blankets.

"It was incredible," said Cousins. "She's a retired teacher from the Flint-area, and she wants to start volunteering at our building in January."

Cousins added a local ear, nose and throat specialist also wanted to participate in the project, and that they were able to sponsor 40 blankets.

It was important to make sure each student got a blanket of their own since some children could be experiencing difficult transitions outside the classroom., she said.

Cousins said she loved being able to work on the project, and that her home church, Central Church of the Nazarene, had partnered with the school some years ago too.

"My daughter attended school here, and I was always involved," she said. "That's how I stepped into the community liaison job that I have here now."

Cousins said she thinks the project will become an annual tradition.