WILTON -- Thirty-seven fifth- and sixth-grade girls from Academy Hill School have spent the last month cutting and tying polar fleece lap blankets to be given to residents of two local nursing homes. The project is part of the community service work done by students involved in Girls Talk, a mentoring collaboration between School Administrative District 9, students from the University of Maine Farmington and community members.

"I helped make the blankets," said sixth-grade member Sophia Bunnell. "It was a lot of fun."

Pauline Rodrique, volunteer coordinator for SAD 9, said Girls Talk is a literature-based group for fifth- and sixth-grade girls at Wilton's Academy Hill School, led by Lucinda Poulin and Jody Cook.

"We currently have 37 girls paired with mentors as well as many other very involved adult volunteers," said Poulin.

The program was originally founded by Kirsten Swan of the Kingfield Elementary School in 2002, Rodrique said. Three years later, it was brought to Wilton.

Cook said that it is the mission of the club to pair the girls with women role models from the community and the University of Maine Farmington to mentor them in a way that will expand their self esteem and encourage them to aspire to be responsible community members and leaders.

The group meets monthly to share a meal and discuss the current book. By discussing the books, in depth, Cook and Poulin hope to help the girls look deeper into the story's message and connect it, in some way, to their own lives.

Poulin said involving girls in projects like this will give them a better understanding of their community and its needs.

"My hope is that the girls will aspire and understand that anything they want to do is possible," Poulin said.

"The door is open to them. They just need to find what they want to do."

Their last meeting of the year was held this week. It consisted of a buffet prepared by volunteers Lorraine Carlton, Katie Hallman, Karri Dwyer and Nancy Alexander. Dinner was followed by a presentation of certificates and the gift of eight lap blankets, made by the girls, to Stephanie Rushton, director of nursing at Edgewood Manor and Orchard Park, of Farmington.

A small number of the girls will be traveling to meet the recipients of their blankets, at a later date.

Cook said that the group runs, solely, on generous donations from local businesses and the commitment and hard work of volunteers. Volunteer efforts range from guest speakers to mentors, community leaders and those who cook the meals.

It is the hope of the Girls Talk organizers that community service projects, such as this, will help to strengthen the commitment each girl has to her community and create a value system that they will carry into their adult lives.