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By Nina Crowder
Teens Sew Cool is a sewing program for teens and preteens to offer them sewing skills for the future. Teens Sew Cool has a Federal 501(C) (3) charitable organization designation. The program has been ongoing at the San Manuel High School for several years. The volunteers run a four-week summer program, a nine-week spring program and a nine-week fall program at the high school. This program is free of cost to the students.
The goals of Teens Sew Cool is to teach the art of sewing to young people with the goals of giving them a sense of pride, accomplishment, following directions and skills for future use in family and possible income production.
Teens Sew Cool’s charitable organization teaches sewing to students who may not be able to attend classes in the fabric stores and the quilt shops. Many of them are from single parent homes or financially strapped families. At times, this sewing program is the only “one-on-one” interfacing these students will have. The volunteers attempt to teach them and encourage their academic, behavioral and teamwork skills while they are learning how to sew.
During the classes students are taught sewing basics, and apply them to make various projects, such as pillows, pillowcases, stuffed animals, quillows, bean bag chairs, tote and cargo bags, raggedy quilts, wallets, PJs and robes, and a host of other items. In addition to sewing for their own use or for family members each student has a community project as well. Some of the community projects have included lap quilts for Veterans Hospital, ties for the military in Iraq and so on.
Teens Sew Cool has terrific loyal staff volunteers who are dedicated to the idea of sharing skills of sewing that they truly love with the young people who want to learn. There are many giving and caring ladies in the community who meet each week to bring the joy of sewing to these teens.
Volunteers and contributions are always needed. If you are interested in volunteering or able to give donations, please feel free to contact the President Linda Brush or Executive Liaison Judy Padgham at www.teenssewcool.org or for more information on the program info@teenssewcool.org. Thank you to MSM Community Schools for help with the room and working with the people involved to make this a successful program!
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