BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Junior League of Bakersfield and East High School are teaming up to spread child abuse and neglect awareness.

Students from East High are helping to make quilts that will each signify a life that has been taken as a result of abuse or neglect, and it's all part of the Children's Memorial Quilt event that will be held next month. "I feel good to be able to make quilts and know I helped make aware of something," said student Shaleen Robson.

Seventeen quilts are being made for the Children's Memorial Quilt project. Each quilt made will have a silhouette of a child that died and his or her name embroidered on it.

"I feel it's something that needs appropriate attention. I think there's a need for a call to action," said Amy Karren of the Junior League of Bakersfield.

The Junior League of Bakersfield created the project to remember at least 17 children in Kern County who were killed by abuse or neglect from 2008 through 2009.

"It's unimaginable to be able to comprehend that many lives being lost in such a short amount of time," said Robson.

There were 17 deaths, if you count the accidental drownings of 4 -year-old Marcus and 1-year-old Micah earlier this week. Their mother, Candiace Tucker, said it was the result of neglect by their two babysitters. "They were not paying attention," said Tucker.

Other children remembered in the quilts include 2-year-old Guillermo Alvarez, who died of blunt force trauma last summer and Kayli Bearden, who was allegedly beat to death in August of 2008.

Quilting teacher Mary Newman said it's painful to see each quilt made knowing its meaning. "To lose a child is just unbearable. There's more to it than life. What was their potential, what could they have done with it. That could've been the person to cure cancer or be president," said Newman.

The unveiling of the Children's Memorial Project will be April 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., downtown at the Junior League of Bakersfield.