Summer Sewing

A service project of mine is sewing with the youth at our local shelter and I have been amazed with their enthusiasm. They patient and determined,  and are turning out some great projects. Many have never touched a sewing machine before.  Unfortunately, I have been forgetting to bring my camera most days. I did remember last time and have a couple pictures to share.

One youth made a Cinchy Cinch bag, with which to tote his stuff around town. These bags are very handy to have, and a great beginner project. Red seems to be a popular color, but I am clearly challenged when it comes to photographing red fabric and projects. He didn’t want to stop, so he made a self-lined pocket and sewed it into his bag.

Another youth chose to make this zipper  boxy bag, which I wish I had designed it to be a bit bigger.  She had a little sewing experience and  worked hard to create this amazing little bag. These youths have a stick-with-it-ness that is sure to serve them well in their lives.

Here’s a photo of the lining:

The youth seemed very proud of their accomplishments, as they should be. They worked hard and their projects look great!
I highly recommend doing a service project like this in your community. Maybe you have another skill or craft to teach, or an activity to do with the youth in need within your community. It speaks volumes and is most rewarding.

Connecting with these youth is an experience that I would not trade for anything. It also widens my perspective each time. I hope this connection is something that the youth will take with them through their lives and remember that they are valued and though they may not have a physical “house” temporarily. They are not homeless–they belong, they have a home within their community. This distinction should be made clear. After all, home is where the heart is. These youth have heart. We need to take the time to nurture them. Now.

I hope this post inspires you to reach out and connect with someone in need. Whether it be through  teaching, spending an afternoon, or even just through a warm smile and friendly “hello” in passing. This idea is similar to “pay it forward,” serial reciprocity. Touch the lives of others, and they will go on to touch others in positive ways. Kindness and gifts are meant to be shared; ever present, they will gain mobility. In this way, improving the quality of life for a community can start with one person, one act, one gesture.

If you have children, this idea is important to share. There are numerous books that illustrate this concept: we affect those around us and shape our own environments. Charlotte Zolotow is one of my favorite authors; she is brilliant and has such a fantastic way of sharing important messages with young people–lessons us grown-ups also need and can learn from.  Her book entitled, The Quarreling Book demonstrates what happens when we are too preoccupied or busy to connect in positive ways.

~Erin