Stitch for Students starts May 1!
Communities In Schools of Lexington/Davidson County is thrilled to announce the official start of Stitch for Students 2013 this week!
This popular community sewing project, now in its third year, relies on volunteers to provide hundreds of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students with personalized, hand-stitched blankets at the beginning of each school year.
We’re also excited to announce a new addition to the Stitch for Students administrative team.
Carol Williams, a Davidson County Community College employee with a background in community organizing, has agreed to assist project founder, Betty Jane Honeycutt with volunteer recruitment and registration this year. She’ll also keep volunteers informed with an occasional news update.
“I have read about the Stitch for Students project in the newspaper for the last two years. Since I am not a seamstress I didn’t feel there was anything that I could contribute to the project,” said Williams. “When I saw the article a few weeks ago asking for administrative assistance for this year’s project I knew that was an area I could help with.”
Stitch for Students is currently seeking volunteers willing to sew and donate blankets. Training sessions for novice sewers can be scheduled as-needed.
“It’s a very simple blanket. Anyone with basic sewing skills could participate. This would be a great project for church groups or Girl Scout troops working on a sewing badge,” said Williams, adding that even those without any interest in sewing can participate in Stitch for Students by donating fabric or money to purchase fabric.
“Not only do we need those who have the ability to sew the blankets, but also donations of 100 percent cotton cloth that is 44 or 45 inches wide,” she said.
The official kickoff date for the project is May 1. Williams and Honeycutt hope to rally enough volunteers to help produce between 400 and 500 blankets to donate to students for the 2013/14 school year.
“With the addition of Carol to our leadership team, Stitch for Students will be even stronger this year. I am excited to see the new ideas and energy she brings to the program,” Honeycutt said. “With many of our volunteers already producing blankets for this year’s project, there is every reason to believe 2013 will be the best yet for Stitch for Students.”
Those interested in registering for Stitch for Students should contact Williams at 239-6043 or Stitch4Students@yahoo.com.
Download the volunteer registration form
and simple instructions for making nap blankets today!