I know now is the time we are all busy with our holiday sewing for family and friends but please consider adding one more thing to your sewing list: charity. There are many wonderful charities that need your sewing talent to help meet needs all around the world. Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced sewist–most of the organizations use patterns that are easy for beginners!
The list below contains just some charities; also don’t forget your local shelters and hospitals. You can call them and see what they are currently in need of!
- Day for Girls provides feminie hygnie kits to girls in over 120 countries. You can volunteer to sew reusable pads or meet with your local chapter to help assemble entire kits. Check here to see if there is a local chapter near your or here to register as a solo sewist to gain access to the patterns.
- Sew Powerful distributes handmade purses filled with reusable pads to girls in Zambia so they don’t have to skip school when on their period, as is traditionally done.
- Dress a Girl Around the World wants every girl to know they valuable, worthy of respect, and loved by God. Contact your state’s ambassador to find out more information on how to donate dresses. Check here for information on the types of dresses they accept.
- Little Dresses for Africa provides pillow case dresses and cloth pads for girls, and pants for boys.
- Gracie’s Gowns: If you live near Caroline County in Virginia you can volunteer to help make custom hospital gowns for kids that have long term hospital stays. If you can’t volunteer locally, they have requested items for NICU babies that you can sew and mail in. Being a NICU mom, I know the difference these items can make! Check here for patterns and mailing address.
- Sharing the Weight distributes weighted blankets to special needs children. They accept donations of blanket making supplies as well as completed blankets. This tutorial on their site shows how to make a weighted blanket.
- Ryan’s Case for Smiles gives out fun and whimsical pillows to children in hospitals. This is an easy and fun way to use all those crazy and bright fabrics you’ve been hoarding!
- Pretty Pockets are drain bulb covers given to patients recovering from a mastectomy to help make their recovery more comfortable. Here is more information about volunteering as well as the pattern. You can give completed pockets to your local cancer center or send them to Creative Blossoms for distribution.
- The Sleeping Bag Project gives out sleeping bags to the homeless around the US. Check here to find a local group or you can use their pattern to make and donate to your local shelter.
- Capes for Kids wants kids to believe in the power of themselves and foster the use of imagination by giving capes to shelters across the US. They have both a no-sew and sewing pattern. This organization also does amazing sewing room make-overs for women’s shelters called enchanted makeovers!
Come share your charity sews with our Facebook group or tag me on Instagram!
