We try to have regularly scheduled charity sewing days on Saturdays and aim for once a month when we don’t have a workshop scheduled. Members also sew at home to contribute to our selected causes.
Sewing face masks
During 2020, guild members answered the call to sew face masks to assist vulnerable populations as the Coronavirus spread. Since the pandemic began, members have sewn 3,517 masks so far that have been donated to the following:
- The Willows – for residents in this affordable housing unit
- Healthy Alamance – for distribution to to the most vulnerable members of our immediate community including the elderly and persons with underlying medical conditions as well as to places where people live in close proximity to one another such as nursing homes, family home centers and long term care facilities and residents of Burlington Housing Authority.
- CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response & Resource Center
- Burlington Pediatrics – including masks for young patients
- Burlington Fire Department
- Burlington Police Department – masks for adults and children
- Graham Police Department – for distribution at their Children’s Mask Giveaway
- Village at Brookwood retirement community
- Alamance Skin Center
Sewing for children
Prior to the pandemic, members voted to focus our 2020 charity sewing on three organizations that support children.
- Crossroads – during 2019 and again in 2020, we made over 50 quilts each year for children and youth aged 4-14 who have experienced sexual assault. Prior to a medical exam, children will be able to select a quilt for comfort and take it home. We have continued making quilts for this cause in 2020.
- Carolina Adoption Services – for the past few years, we have created quilt blocks to welcome adopted children “home” through domestic adoptions and international adoptions. See adoptee quilt photos.
- Alamance Pregnancy Services – members are sewing baby quilts for mothers experiencing unplanned pregnancies.
We also continued supporting Ryan’s Cases for Smiles in 2020 – we cranked out 371 pillowcases in 2019 and 259 in 2020 to distribute to hospitalized children in several hospitals in the Raleigh and Winston Salem areas.
In 2019, we donated quilts to Davis Street Methodist Church for their newly remodeled nursery and toddler rooms. We are very appreciative of the church for providing us a place to meet. We donated quilts and other items to various organizations supporting youth for their fundraisers including:
- rope bowls to Crossroads for participants to take home from their soup bowl fundraiser
- three quilts to Cure AHC for a Miracles for Matthew silent auction
- one quilt to Blessed Sacrament School
- a quilt made from artwork done by children attending the Welcome Home event for Carolina Adoption Services to auction at their fall fundraiser.
During 2017 we made quilts to contribute to NALES for children who have lost a parent in law enforcement. In 2018, we made an all-out commitment to NALES and our members donated 46 quilts in October 2018. Some of these were a result of our 2018 President’s Challenge.
Sewing for adults
- We have sewn over 100 placemats using orphan quilt blocks and donated them to Alamance County Meals on Wheels.
- We sewed walker bags for those living at Alamance House.
- During fall of 2017, we worked with the memory care unit of Twin Lakes to sew clothing protectors from fabric and a pattern donated by a resident’s family member. Several guild members also created fidget mats for memory care patients. A dozen clothing protectors and five fidget mats were delivered for use by residents. See photos of Twin Lakes donations.
- Lap quilts made by guild members were donated in December 2017 to Davis Street Methodist Church in appreciation for their allowing us to use their facilities for our meetings and sew days, and two patriotic quilts were donated in 2019 for members who were veterans.
- Group members sewed adult bibs that were donated to Brookdale Clare Bridge Alzheimer/Dementa Care Unit at the end of 2016.
Sewing for furry friends
Members of our group save their fabric scraps and use them to stuff pillows for cats awaiting adoption. They are donated on a regular basis to Sparkle Cat Rescue.