The Long Island Quilters' Society presented 100 handmade quilts to the young mothers of the Nassau BOCES Teenage Parenting Program in Seaford earlier this week.

LIQS's president and Plainview resident, Wendy Strumwasser, said that giving the blankets to the young mothers is an especially rewarding feeling for her and the members of the club.

The donation of blankets is an annual project for the LIQS. In the past its members have made quilts that were given to St. Francis Hospital, Project Linus, Ronald McDonald House, and Winthrop Hospital.

In addition to the 100 quilts presented to each of the students at the TAP school, Strumwasser has worked with the students for several months to create a large oversized quilt for display in the school lobby. The quilt features the pictures of TAP students and their children. The embroidery of the quilt was completed by the students at the school.

Rose Galla, the school's principal, described Strumwasser as a role model for the students and thanked her organization for their commitment to TAP. "It shows how much the community cares about them," said Galla.

"It takes much giving of oneself to make a quilt," said Jim Wilde, assistant director. "However the term, labor of love, is broadened to quite another level when the quilter gives the wonderful personal creation to someone else who can benefit from it. We are truly grateful to the LIQS."

Strumwasser commended the students on completing the large quilt. By working on the project they learned something that they can carry with them as they continue their education. "I feel this is a wonderful program that truly addresses the needs of these girls."

The Teenage Parenting Program is run through Nassau BOCES and offers pregnant teens and teen mothers an environment to receive an education while also learning to care for their child. The integration of academics with the practicality of child-rearing is critical for the program's success because the students attending the program still must meet all the curriculum requirements as they would at their home school.

Since 1982, TAP has been offering young girls from school districts throughout the county guidance in preparing for birth, training in proper child care, counseling, community and job-shadowing programs, and nursery care for the babies.

According to Wilde, the program has been very successful merely for the fact that it keeps teenage girls in school, regardless of their additional responsibilities.

"They come here and they not only get an education and learn parenting skills, but they get some self confidence, they develop a support team," said Wilde. "This place is like a family."