This year's ASG community service initiative, "Acts of Sewing Kindness," is focused on projects for babies.  Neighborhood groups will be sewing items to donate.  ASG members can find the patterns on the national website here.

In January, the Sew Amused Stitchers neighborhood group hosted a sew-in to make walker bags for residents of Delmar Gardens West.  We had a great time and were able to leave them with 24 walker bags, plus several more in-progress that we will deliver soon.  Two of the residents came in to get their bags and were very excited to receive them!

Fashion, Fabric, and Friends routinely collects fleece and flannel blankets, and personal size toiletries for the Ronald McDonald House.  Blankets of any size are be accepted, but 45" by 1.5-2 yd, or 60" by 1.25 yard are convenient sizes.  Just be sure to pre-wash your fleece or flannel.  Bring your items to a Fashion, Fabric, and Friends meeting, or email Leslie Becker.

The House Rabbit Society of Missouri is a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to rescuing abandoned domestic rabbits operates a shelter in Fenton. Each bunny has a large crate as his house with a soft fabric pad placed on the plastic floor of the crate. The Society has a couple of volunteers who sew pads for them but they are desperate for more. They have about 140 rabbits in the shelter and also sell pads to rabbit owners for income.  The Society will supply the fabric, instructions, a sample pad and even the thread. The pads are simple rectangles but they have three layers – two exteriors and a middle. You can only use 100% cotton because bunnies chew and they can digest cotton; synthetic fibers can be deadly.

Our chapter is offering a $500 scholarship to a college student who is pursuing a degree in fiber arts or other sewing-related studies.  Download the application here, and return to the address on the form by March 1, 2022.

This year, our chapter is continuing to sew duffel bags for children entering foster care.  If you would like materials for a bag, or need to turn in a finished bag, email Judy Finck.

In 2017, the City Sew-Ers  embarked on an ambitious community service project of sewing reusable food totes for two food pantries in Webster Groves, and the response has been terrific. Rene Howard delivered 72 tote bags to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Webster Groves.  Their director was quite pleased to receive this gift for their food pantry which serves approximately 50 families each month, primarily through Webster Rock Hill Ministries.  Instructions for making the totes can be found here. 

Benrus Surgical at Barnes-Jewish St. Peter is in need of Anti-Ouch Pouches.  Whenever someone is having a mastectomy, they are given an Anti-Ouch Pouch. The patients love them. They especially like the bright colors and cheery designs. Instructions for making the pouches here.  Contact: Teri Notorangelo, 6 Jungermann Circle, Suite 205 St. Peters, Missouri 63376; 636-229-4776; Teri.Notorangelo@bjc.org

Several local charitable groups have requested tote bags on an ongoing basis to carry supplies and food to the needy.  You can help out by making totes!  Use your favorite pattern, or the pattern here to make totes from any medium weight fabric. To turn in your finished bag, or request fabric to use, email Judy Finck.

Caris Healthcare, a hospice agency serving Saint Louis and Saint Charles counties, let us know that they would happily accept donations such as walker bags, blankets, or other sewn items. This could be a resource for neighborhood groups and individuals planning their upcoming community service activities.  For more information, see their flyer here.

If you wish to make and donate doll clothes, our members can help you!  Just mention to one of our groups that you'd like to contribute and we will be happy to help.