Gabby Harris knows how it feels to have everything at school change in one horrific instant.
The Utahn was a Columbine High School student when that shooting occurred, and she will join students and community members at the University of Utah's LDS Institute of Religion today in tying "comfort quilts" for students at Virginia Tech.
"I know the kids from Virginia are facing some very dark days right now," said Harris, who started working on the quilts Thursday. "The 'comfort quilts' are a tangible way for us to show those students our love, respect and concern for them, as well as helping them to feel safe."
Quilting supplies have been donated, and Deseret Book agreed to pay to ship the quilts to Virginia.
Students on campuses throughout Utah are reaching out to their colleagues at Virginia Tech.
Weber State University held moments of silence on Thursday and the U. held an interfaith prayer service. Students at both schools signed mementos to send to Virginia.
In addition to today's quilt tying at the U., which will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Brigham Young University will hold a candlelight vigil and Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City will wear Virginia Tech's colors and hold a prayer service.
BYU's vigil will be from 8 to 9 p.m. Members of the campus community are invited.
A banner students can sign with personal expressions will be available all day on the west end of the terrace in the Wilkinson Student Center as well as at the vigil. The completed banner will be sent to Virginia Tech.
At Judge Memorial, students and faculty will forgo their traditional school uniforms to don Virginia Tech's colors of orange and maroon for a prayer service at 10 a.m., the time an interfaith prayer service will take place on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
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* SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.
Those who wish to donate funds to lend assistance to victims and their families are asked to do so through the official Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund at Virginia Tech and to avoid unprofessional or fraudulent donation attempts. More information is available at http://www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial fund.php.