RIVER EDGE — Before "Knots of Love," most students in Miriam Garau-Gargiulo’s homeroom class at River Dell hadn't so much as picked up a piece of fabric before.

These very same students, however, quickly became experts in creating knotted blankets, motivated by a simple, powerful wish: to make sure homeless children had something to keep them warm during the holidays.

"Teaching isn’t just teaching them the subject," said Garau-Gargiulo. "It’s about kindness and empathy and making them aware on a global level what is going on."

The Knots of Love project began as part of River Dell Middle School’s annual door decorating contest, said Garau-Gargiulo. This year’s theme was charities, with classes asked to create displays based on the Center for Food Action, a food pantry based in Englewood, or other charities of their choosing.

In September, Garau-Gargiulo's seventh-graders started a GoFundMe campaign that raised $175 to purchase the fabric to make 22 blankets. For 15 minutes of each homeroom period, the students would take 2 yards of fleece fabric and knot it by hand to create the fringed blankets.

The blankets were destined for the Bergen County Housing, Health and Human Services Center in Hackensack, which runs a homeless shelter, and Family Promise of Bergen County. The class specifically wanted homeless children to have the blankets, said Garau-Gargiulo.

The center in Hackensack has the temporary shelter capacity for 90 beds — 28 in dormitories, and the rest in bedrooms for up to eight people. The organization also has a "sit-up" shelter (without beds) for 15 people from Dec. 15 to March 14.

Earlier this year, federal authorities praised Bergen County's efforts to end long-term homelessness, which it held up as a national model. The county aids 1,200 people a year, offering daily meals, showers, financial assistance and interview coaching.

All 30 students in Garau-Gargiulo’s homeroom played a part in putting the door display together. It featured a stand holding up the blankets the class made, artwork and signs displaying information about homelessness in the area.

"It feels nice since you’re helping other people in a fun way," said student Katie McLaughlin.

Many of the students were surprised that homelessness affected children right in their own orbits.

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“We are so oblivious to how many people didn’t have homes,” said Isabelle Schneider, another student from Garau-Gargiulo’s class. “We should be grateful for ours.”

Katie Kim, who helped create artwork depicting a homeless child for the display, hoped it would make other students in the school aware of homelessness and inspire them to help others.

"A lot of people felt sad, but at least they showed emotion to the artwork," said Katie.