San Francisco Chronicle - THURSDAY, December 16, 1993
Benjamin Pimentel, Chronicle Staff Writer

The quilt was the students' holiday gift to a baby with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The 13 fourth- and fifth-graders from North Shoreview School in San Mateo, mostly immigrants from Central America and the Pacific, spent a week and a half -- some gave up their recess periods -- to make drawings with fabric pens on pieces of cloth.

The project was part of the Newspaper in Education project of The Chronicle's Season of Sharing Fund, which tries to get children involved in activities meant to help other people.

Their teacher, Linda Langley, helped them put the 3-foot-by-4-foot quilt together, and the students presented the gift on a visit to the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto.

Some of the students smiled shyly, and others had curious looks on their faces as they gathered near the fountain in the center for the hospital: Jassiel Picos is 11, Priya Chand, 9; Carmen Esquivel, 9; Jessica Estrada, 10; Nancy Guardado, 10; Alejandra Mejia, 10; Maria Morales, 11; Bulfrano Ortiz, 9; Andrea Perez, 10; Eric Vasquez, 10; Yvette Rodriguez, 10; Ofa Tavake, 11; and Clara Ariza, 9.

"Our class made this quilt for someone less fortunate," said Ofa, whom the class chose to make the presentation.

For privacy reasons, the baby's identity was not revealed, although Barbara Sullivan, the baby's nurse, told them about the infant girl who will receive their gift.

"She's very ill, and this will be very good for her," Sullivan said. "On behalf of our baby, I certainly thank you. This is really gorgeous."

"It's a girl, huh," Maria said, smiling.

As a way of rewarding the students for their volunteer work, the American Conservatory Theater will treat the students to a performance of "A Christmas Carol" in San Francisco. The students also created a scrapbook of writings and drawings, which will be put on display at San Francisco Shopping Centre next month.

"We made a quilt for a baby that has AIDS," Jessica wrote in the book. "I feel sad and angry because he is a baby. What made feel sad and angry is that the baby might die."

Eric Vasquez also said: "I drew a police car, trees and birds for a baby that is sick and has no cure. We made this quilt in our classroom. We think it will be a nice gift for Christmas to a child less fortunate. . . . I love babies."

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(Donations to the Season of Sharing Fund help thousands of people throughout the year. Assistance is in the form of grants paid directly to the supplier of services, such as a landlord. Individuals cannot receive direct grants.)

CAPTION: PHOTO

Nurse Barbara Sullivan of Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto accepted a quilt from the children/BY ERIC LUSE/THE CHRONICLE

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