POULSBO — A remark from the North Kitsap School District superintendent sparked an idea that has become a generous donation to the people of Afghanistan.

Several weeks ago, when Supt. Gene Medina was at a meeting at Poulsbo Junior High, he briefly remarked that everyone at the meeting would be going home to blue skies and a meal, while the children of Afghanistan were starving — and dying.

And that remark got JoAnne Bodner thinking.

“I thought, ‘I can do something about part of this,’” she said. “Not all of it. But part of it.”

So Bodner, who teaches 12 students in PJH resource room three, embarked on a new project with her students: to make quilts for the people of Afghanistan.

The students, who are in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, are up to 24 quilts and counting.

And at least one of the quilts will carry an individual touch. For that quilt, which is still in progress, all students are designing their own squares.

Bodner recently showed off some of the students’ work.

“This one’s a green Ninja turtle,” she said, holding up one design (which the student had drawn out on paper).

Next to that was a red M&M man (with arms and legs), and much more.

“We also have a tree and two hearts,” said Bodner.

The quilts and backing were donated by Hiding Place Antiques of downtown Poulsbo; Bodner didn’t have to do much arm-twisting to procure the donation, since she owns the store.

Students worked on the twin-sized quilts by squaring up the fabric to the material, then pinning it and turning it right-side out.

“It’s made like a pillow case,” she explained.

The inside of each quilt has been marked, “Made by students at Poulsbo Junior High, U.S.A.”

“I’m proud of my students. They’ve done a nice job and worked really hard,” Bodner said.

Karene Grinsell and Girl Scout Troop 1010 are also putting together quilts at Poulsbo Elementary.

But the generosity isn’t over yet. Bodner wants to collect more quilts, so there are between 100 and 200. Then she wants to find an organization to deliver them to the people of Afghanistan.

Bodner is hoping to have either Mercy Corps, World Concerns, or the U.S. Navy deliver the quilts.

She hopes to deliver the quilts around March 1.