Fabric drive underway for students in need
As summer is coming to an end for area students some of the youth don't have everything they need to start a new school year.
A local woman is spearheading an initiative to create various items out of fabric to give students in need a little head start heading into the 2015-2016 school year.
A fabric drive kicked off earlier this month that will run until Aug. 15, headed by volunteer coordinator Barb Johnston, to obtain the needed materials to make pillowcases and drawstring bags, which will be filled with personal care items for in-need youth.
"We need fabric to make the items for the students in need," Johnston said. "We have no official sponsor, we just ask for the community's help."
All the items that will be dispersed to the students will be sewed by volunteers. There are over 400 students in need according to Johnston.
Johnston said that the fabric drive has been taking place for the last four to five years, and has been a success each of those years.
"It's pretty good," she said. "This will be the second time that we really needed fabric because so many of the volunteers really exhausted their personal supply."
Johnston explained that a yard of fabric is relatively cheap depending on where you buy it, as it can go for as little as $5 per yard and a few hundred yards are needed.
"Right now we need about three hundred yards," she said.
New fabric is always good, but Johnson also said that if anyone has any fabric lying around their homes that they arenât not using, that is welcome as well.
The personal care items that will fill the bags are also accepted as any kind of hygiene-related items such as soaps, shampoo, conditioners and other like items are also welcome.
"A lot of people save them up over the summer as they travel, when they don't use the soaps and shampoos from the hotel and motel rooms," Johnston said. "Some people buy the travel size items."
Anyone who is interested in donating fabric, money, or personal care items to the cause can do so at the Nevada State Bank located at 1301 S. Highway 160, or at the front reception desk at the central office of the NyE Communities Coalition.
Also, if you're on the south end of town you can drop off any donations at Johnston's home. You can arrange that by contacting her at 775-751-5356.
If you can't donate materials or money, you can also donate your time, as there will be a community sewing day on Sept. 19 at the NyE Coalition, to help make some of the pillowcases and bags that will be handed out as part of the drive.
Johnston urges the public to help, as something so small can make a big impact on the students' lives.
"It's for the students," she said. "They will express thank you's through the school board. Just because it helps them feel better. It's something simple that can help them have a better day at school, it's good for everybody in the long run, not just that one student."
