Group Volunteers
It’s fun and rewarding to volunteer at North Florida Sewing Center.
But even more fun is to come with a group of friends! We welcome sororities, fraternities, service organizations, youth groups, faith-based organizations, students, senior retirees, and sports teams to schedule a time with us for some hands-on activities. We tailor the activities to the abilities and interests of the group and will also give you a short presentation about our work at the sewing center. If we have sponsors, your group members may even receive free washable pads.
We offer several possible ways for groups to support us. If you have 2-4 people, you can just show up when we are open. You are welcome to let us know you are coming but it is not essential.
Groups of 4-10 should email nfsewingcenter@gmail.com to request a two hour service block during the day. Suggest several dates and times and we will see who is able to lead this group at North Florida Sewing Center (on the east side of Wesley United Methodist Church, 826 NW 23 Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609).
Groups of 10-30 (or maybe a few more), can make a reservation to go to our Shear Center located at Southwest United Methodist Church, 2400 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608 on a Tuesday or Friday evening 6:30-8:30. Suggest several possible dates as these slots fill up quickly. You must have a minimum of 10 people. Your group will be helping with tracing, cutting, and rotary cutting. Text Michelle at 352 318 1164 to arrange this.
Groups of up to 15 may sign up for a shift at any of our Hearts & Hands Service Days. These are held on Saturdays once per month. Shifts are 10-12 or 12:30-2:30. Email to let us know you would like to come. H&H days are listed on our calendar. nfsewingcenter@gmail.com
If your group is too large, we can split it and offer two shifts. Each shift would need to be a minimum of 90 minutes. Remember it takes some time to train you in the tasks so anything less than 90 minutes or two hours isn’t worthwhile.
We can also go to you with hands-on activities and a presentation if it is not possible for your group to travel to our sewing center or shear center. But it is easier for us to work with you at our sites.
An option that some groups choose is to ask for a suitcase of supplies for hands-on work at their location. This must be requested at least two weeks in advance and we recommend giving us a choice of dates just in case someone else is already booked for that time. The suitcase can hold supplies for up to 20 people to trace and cut fabrics. We include detailed instructions, scissors, patterns, markers, and fabrics. You would be tracing fabrics for the pad holders plus pockets and quilt rectangles and squares. If you are tracing on cotton fabric, you will need to provide covers your tables or the ink will go through and stain your furniture.
For more information on the types of presentations we can offer to groups, please see the link Presentations to Groups under the Education tab.
Please remember to share the Safety Guidelines to everyone in your group.
Here are our safety guidelines:
Wear ask you to wear a face mask to protect vulnerable seniors
Wear closed toe shoes for your safety
Tie back long hair
Wash your hands when you arrive
Don’t come if you are sick or have been exposed to a communicable disease
We recommend short fingernails
