Keeping cool under pressure

The Ortonville Sewing Club is taking the heat for U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Taking the heat away from them, that is.
The club, which meets at the Edna Burton Senior Center, is currently working on an order of 550 neck coolers for soldiers.
‘We’ve been working since last Tuesday and we’ve got 400 made right now,? said Jo Miller, sewing club organizer.
Neck coolers are made from strips of donated material and filled with water absorbing beads that can keep soldiers cool in the Afghanistan heat.
‘Once they get wet, they swell up,? Miller said. ‘We make helmet liners with the same materials. It gets hot over there and we just want to do something to help.?
The neck cooler project has been through a few stages. It started in 2008 with willing volunteers.
‘At first, women came in with sewing machines, but didn’t know how to use them,? Miller said.
After learning the pattern, the girls got to work, filling boxes with 200 neck coolers apiece.
Their newest order came by surprise.
‘We sent a box to Kara A. Shelhamer, and her commander is who requested 550 for their platoon,? Miller said.
When making the neck coolers, the group has to keep a few things in mind. For one thing, the variety of colors needs to be limited to solid or nondescript patterns.
‘It’s all donated material, but we can’t use anything like red or bright white,? Miller said. ‘Anything that could make them stand out as targets.?
Between eight and 10 women are helping Miller complete the heavy order.
The club also sells neck coolers at local fundraisers, using more exciting looking material. They sell for $6 each.
‘The next fundraiser for items for the troops will be at Septemberfest,? Miller said.
The group has had two previous sales, raising $889 in April and $879 in June.
‘Somebody’s got to plan some of these things,? Miller said. ‘We just want to help the community.?