Sew-A-Thon
Every year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people take time to kick off the holiday season by giving back to their community. Whether it is donating money to a charitable cause or volunteering, Giving Tuesday is a day set to benefit the community. For me, the opportunity to give back came a bit early this year.
On November 6, 2021, hundreds of people gathered at church in my community to sew dresses for the Dress A Girl Around the World organization. Founder Rachel Eggum Cinader describes the organization this way: “Dedicated volunteers throughout the United States and around the world gather to sew and distribute dresses to girls in need around the world because we believe every girl deserves at least one dress…” https://dressagirlaroundthe world.com
I wasn’t sure what to expect when my friends Devi, Karen, and I showed up that morning, but it astonished me to see the large room already full of folks swarming like a hive of organized and purpose-driven bees.
Volunteers met attendees in the parking to assist with transporting sewing machines of all shapes and sizes. Kendra (my newly named vintage Kenmore) fit right in alongside other vintage machines and their modernized counterparts.
The Sew-A-Thon, part modern-day quilting bee/ part assembly line, was organized for efficient productivity, yet buzzing with laughter and conversation. I sewed on pockets, Devi sewed seams, and Karen worked on the neck and armhole bindings.
By the end of the day, nearly 1,000 dresses were ready for local and world-wide care packages. It was a fun and rewarding way to sew for a cause. A testiment to the power of hope, action, and perseverance in a world that so desperately needs a splash of color and stitch here and there.
Threads of thought
Beautiful things come together one stitch at a time…
My new book , Out of the Crayon Box: Thoughts on Teaching, Retirement, and Life is now available at http://amazon.com/author/debravandeventer
What a lovely way to give back! Thanking all of you for your giving spirit!
It was fun to be in the compnay of so many sewists all working for a cause. I would definately do it again!
What a wonderful idea. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.
Thanks Libby! Happy Holidays!
Debra, it looked like you, Devi and Karen had a great time! I did something similar one year with the American Sewing Guild. It felt so good to be with others who also enjoyed sewing for children we would never know.
Yes! Come join us next year!