Students at Butler Middle School are hopeful that these personalized coffee sleeves bring a smile to someone's face as they get their daily pick-me-up coffee.

To boost the morale of health care workers, Butler Middle School students decorated more than 750 “java jackets” for the Cummings Coffee and Candy shop in Butler Memorial Hospital.

The jackets, which cover disposable coffee cups to protect hands from heat, depict positive messages and thank-yous for the hospital workers.

Barry Cummings, owner of Cummings, said fifth- and sixth-grade students made enough jackets to last the hospital cafe through the year. He said the middle school's students created java jackets for his various locations on two other occasions.

Holly Wilson, art teacher at the school, said each homeroom class participated in the project as part of the “Be Tuff and Stand Up” program for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports.

She said they have been making java jackets since February 2019, but the idea to gear the messages toward health care workers dawned on her recently.

“We try to think of ways for students to reach the actual community and wanted something different than just making cards,” Wilson said.

The jackets were completed the week before Thanksgiving and entered the hospital for use Tuesday. Wilson said messages on the sleeves included “Thank You, Health Care Heroes,” and other quotes about staying positive in hard times.

“The goal is to have kids realize they have an impact on the community,” Wilson said. “We teach them that the school functions as its own community. It's to make them realize they're a small part of a larger community, and they make a difference.”

Wilson said the students enjoyed using their creative skills to work on the project.

“Students really like to do creative and art things as a break from their normal classes,” Wilson said. “They really enjoyed making the coffee sleeves because of the creativity.”

“It's a wonderful thing and it definitely lifts spirits at the hospital,” said Cummings.