Share: 

Volunteers create bags, pads for foster children, homeless people

Sew-in group knits, crochets and sews for people in need
April 11, 2019

Story Location:
20684 State Forest Rd
Georgetown, DE 19947
United States

Nimble Fingers, a local volunteer program of the Sussex County Volunteer Delaware 50+ Advisory Council Inc., is making items for those who are less fortunate. The Nimble Fingers volunteer group, consisting of 80-100 members exclusively 50 years and older, is working on three different projects: knitting, crocheting, sewing and quilting items to be worn or used such as baby items, hats, mittens, blankets and lap robes; a sleeping mat project where they cut plastic bags and roll yarn to make them into sleeping mats; and a duffle bag project where they sew materials into duffle bags for individuals to put their belongings in. They are funded by grants and donations. 

The event, called a Sew In, takes place every few weeks, usually twice a month, for four hours. “The longest part is cutting the bags and rolling the yarn,” said Linda Mason, who has been a volunteer for six years. “The sleeping mats, typically six feet by three feet, take three days to crochet and consist of roughly 600 bags.”

“The duffle bag project is exclusively for foster children,” said Ann Gorrin, program manager of Volunteer Delaware 50+. “We measure the duffle bags, sew the edges and then sew the bags.” The bags are given to foster care workers for when children are taken from their home and put into foster care. “Usually the child is told to get their things, but they only have a trash bag to put everything in. These duffle bags will take the place of the trash bags.” Gorrin said. “They can even be customized. There is a spot inside where the child can put their name and it is also made with smaller pockets.” The leftover materials are used to make smaller bags such as ditty bags and multipurpose bags. 

“The reason I donated is that I grew up in foster care,” said Celina Johnson, a retired New York native who recently moved to Delaware. “I was in foster care from 18 months old until I was 21 years old. You have to give to receive, and I wanted to give something they really need,” Johnson said regarding her donated sewing machine. “It’s what we should be doing; I am happy to donate.”

“A lot of good happens here,” said Gorrin. “We try to meet at different places in different communities. The more people in the communities, the more product that is needed. Something that is really neat is that we don’t have set roles. People decide what they want to help work on when they arrive. Some days people want to knit, and others they want to crochet.”

“The items made by the volunteers are distributed during the holidays to nonprofit organizations in Sussex County such as hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, Boys & Girls Clubs, foster homes, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Delaware veterans homes, hospice, the National Guard,” said Danielle Briggs, volunteer coordinator. “There are almost 40 agencies that we distribute to.”

For more information visit volunteer.delaware.gov or call 302-515-3020. 

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter