For seniors, it’s ‘hat’s off’ to these Builders

A tip of the hat goes to the Davis Middle School Builders Club in Hillsdale, Michigan. Among the club’s many projects this past year was making newspaper hats for senior citizens to wear at the Hillsdale County Fair.

Brimming with enthusiasm, club members met after school, fashioning 50 newspaper hats, adorning them with flowers, bows, and ribbons. Members then attended the fair, passing out the charming chapeaus to seniors gathered at the fairground’s Nichols Bandshell for a concert. The students also served seniors juice, coffee, and doughnuts.

“I liked to hear stories of what they used to do as kids,” club member Candace Kantzler told the Hillsdale Daily News.

Joan Van Arsdalen, past president of the Hillsdale Kiwanis club, Builders Club sponsor, supplied materials to make the hats.

“The Davis Middle School Builders Club is a great asset to our Kiwanis club,” Joan stresses. “Its members help us with our Christmas party for Community Action children. They made 75 trauma dolls for Mott Children’s Hospital and helped with our annual chili cook-off by staffing the coat check and using it as a fundraiser. Its monthly service projects in their school include ‘Teacher of the Month’ and ushering for special events.

“We are very proud of our Builders Club. Its members will one day be leaders in any community.”