Students at a Cambria County elementary school this morning were not only helping out in an initiative to support homeless children, but also become educated on why it's important to help other children and their families in a time of need.

Ferndale Area Elementary School students in kindergarten through 6th grade created blankets this morning to bring warmth and love to kids who don't have a place to call home.

"This is a growing need, we are finding families losing their jobs, they have had homes for years they need to leave due to foreclosures and every time there's a fire a child is considered homeless," says Andrea Sheesley, Regional Homeless Coordinator.

Students at the Ferndale Elementary School were cutting and tying knots on blankets for the "Pay it Forward" program that has school districts helping other school districts.

"We collected donations, personal hygiene products and school supplies for those children who are experiencing homelessness in other school districts," says Eileen Zankey, Guidance Counselor.

"Many children leave their home for whatever reason, and they might not have a blanket or clothing whenever they leave their home so we chose blankets for children to make for other children because blankets symbolize warmth, comfort and sense of ownership of something," says Sheesley.

And with it being difficult for some young children to understand the difficulty of homelessness, the program is helping children learn by doing.

"There's nothing more special than you can see them working together and knowing that what they're doing is going to help someone, somewhere else," says Zankey.

The blankets will be sent to the children at the Marian House, a women's shelter in Clearfield County.