Volunteers make difference every sew often

Opinion

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This article was published 01/01/2018 (2306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the last Monday of every month, Carellan Sewing Centre on Corydon Avenue becomes a Santa’s workshop of sorts.

At the back of the store, a handful of women gather for two hours to volunteer sewing for a variety of different organizations.

Dubbed “Sew We Care,” the group was started 12 years ago by Barbara Bilenki, who owns Carellan.

The group emerged out of “I Love to Sew,” one of the sewing classes Bilenki offers.

The I Love to Sew group would sew nighties that were used for stillborn children at a local hospital.

When the class ended, Bilenki asked the group’s members if they were interested in meeting on a regular basis to practise their sewing skills by making items to donate. The women said yes, and Sew We Care was born.

Four to six women gather whenever the group meets. Over the years, they have sewn quilts for the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, bibs and mattress covers for a daycare, and scarves, hats and neck warmers for a homeless shelter.

They have also made contributions to Gowns for Grads, a Winnipeg initiative that provides gently used gowns at no cost to young women who do not have a gown to wear, as well as the Children’s Hospital and the Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

For Kit Gates, who taught sewing in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division before retiring, volunteering with Sew We Care is fun because each month presents a new challenge.

“When we come up with a different project, we want to try and find the most sensible way of doing the project that works out the best for everybody,” Gates says.

Bernice Forster, a retired nurse, has a simple reason for being involved.

“We have a skill-set that we can use for (helping) other people,” she says.

Brenda McConnell, a retired teacher, drives in from Portage la Prairie to participate. The opportunity to socialize with a group of women who have similar interests, while helping others, attracts her.

“It gives you a good feeling, doing something for somebody else,” McConnell says.

When asked what some of the most meaningful and enjoyable projects have been, Forster points to the time the group made bags that were filled with toiletries and distributed at a women’s shelter.

“In a crisis, a woman likely has nothing, but when she gets to a shelter, she’s given something that shows somebody cares,” Forster says.

For McConnell, sewing nighties for stillborn children has been meaningful.

“I think it’s such a hard time for a family, and it’s something that’s just a kindness that they need at that time, I’m sure,” she says.

The group isn’t picky about the projects it takes on.

“Quite often we don’t know where they’re going, but there’s been a request and we fill it,” Gates says.

“We know they’re going to a good cause, and that’s a good thing,” McConnell adds.

Sew We Care is always looking for new members and projects.

The group has fun together. “We’re just a bunch of sew-and-sews,” McConnell quips.

Anyone interested can email carellan@mts.net, call 204-488-2272 or stop by the store between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the last Monday of the month.

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com