Claire Ellen Jolley donates $2 from every pillowcase sold to the American Cancer Society. (Photo by Anthony Richards)

Twelve-year-old Claire Ellen Jolley has been sewing for less than a year, but is already making a difference within the Chilton County community.

She has come a long way since learning how to sew with her Girl Scout troop in March, and recently opened her own small business along with her mother Amy Jolley called “Pillow Fight for a Cure.”

Jolley’s initial pillowcases went to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Birmingham, which provides free housing for patients and their families during the treatment process.

“Over the summer, I began thinking that we could do this all the time,” Amy Jolley said. “We got an order the other day from a lady in Tuscaloosa.”

To raise awareness for breast cancer research a pillowcase will be given away at the end of the month to someone who has survived breast cancer.

A post has been created on the Pillow Fight for a Cure Facebook page and the names of breast cancer survivors can be tagged.

One survivor will be chosen at random at the end of the month as the winner and will be receive a pillowcase.

“My Girl Scouts troop are each going to sign the end of the pillowcase before we give it away,” Claire Ellen Jolley said.

According to Amy Jolley, the founder of Girl Scouts was born on Oct. 31 and passed away from breast cancer so it was a perfect fit to have the winner chosen on the final day of the month.

Though her troop introduced her to sewing, it was her grandmother that taught her how to make pillowcases.

“She has just continued to work with me,” Claire Ellen Jolley said.

Jolley can make pillowcases in any pattern available from holiday oriented to sports teams.

Pillowcases are $12 each with $2 of every sale donated to the American Cancer Society. An average of 15-20 orders are made per month.

“If we don’t have it, they can just ask us and we can get it online,” Amy Jolley said. “It just feels good to know that you are doing something that directly helps others.”

For more information, visit their Facebook page or call (205) 389-5253.