The kids with their projects
The Oracle Volunteers: Melanie Karpowitz, Penny Wilson, Linda Brush, Sharon Groth, Bonnie Richter, Claudia Hermanson and July Hans, mentor volunteers for the students.
San Manuel students with Kathleen Morgan Squires
Linda Shannon-Hills
Teens Sew Cool finished up the fall session in December at the three sites located at Oracle Mountain Vista School, San Manuel Junior/Senior High School and Coronado K-8 School in Catalina. Many wonderful ladies from SaddleBrooke Ranch, SaddleBrooke and Oro Valley area mentor students one-on-one to teach the art of sewing. Each session is nine weeks, giving the students the opportunity to learn to sew simple projects such as scrappy scarves, stuffed owls, Christmas ornaments, table runners and sometimes even simple clothing items. They usually finish a project in one two-hour session giving them a project to take home to share with their families. There is no charge for students to attend classes with donations coming from grant money, which allows Teens Sew Cool to purchase fabric, sewing notions and to have a machine available for each student’s use during class.
Mentors are volunteers who collectively have many years of sewing experience and give of their time to help young people learn sewing skills in this unique after-school program. Classes are small, between eight to 13 students, open to boys and girls in elementary and middle school.
Mentors are gearing up with new projects for the spring session beginning on February 7, 2016.
Anyone wanting more information can visit the Teens Sew Cool website at www.teenssewcool.org. Teens Sew Cool is a Federal 501(C)(3) charitable organization. TSC welcomes new volunteer mentors that enjoy working with students to learn to sew, as well as cash donations to purchase supplies or donations of fabric, notions and other supplies.