Community sew-in event surpasses expectations

The activities center at NyE Communities Coalition was abuzz with the sounds of whirring sewing machines, chatter and laughter on Friday as local seamstresses and sewing enthusiasts stitched their way to making a difference for the valley's less fortunate.

The Pahrump Community Sew-in saw more than 20 volunteers set needle and thread to fabric, to craft more than 400 pillowcases and fabric drawstring bags for area students who need them.

At the end of the sew-in, volunteers surpassed that goal creating 732 pillowcases and 650 bags.

Coordinator Barbara Johnston said too many school-aged children and their families are having a difficult time making ends meet, and the handcrafted items will help them maintain the basic necessities needed to attend class with their peers.

"It's for the children and those where they might have a home today, but they don't know where they will go next week," she said. "About a month ago the newspaper did an article stating that we needed fabric for this event and we wouldn't have gotten all the fabric donations, if it wasn't for that article and that includes the volunteers here today."

Inside the bags and pillowcases, Johnston said, are toiletries which were donated especially for the program.

"The items that are donated include personal care items like shampoos and lotions or whatever that has been donated to the students in need and it does differ from student to student."

Johnston also credited the organizations who provided both materials and cash for the endeavor.

"The Pahrump Rotary Club donated a check for $300 while the party store and the Disabled American Veterans unit 15 also gave big donations," she said. "Of course the community also assisted. We had collection boxes here at the coalition and Nevada State Bank."

The crafters arrived armed with their respective implements of creativity, as some of the sewing machines were older models and there were some which were state of the art.

Johnston opted for her classic piece of machinery.

"My sewing machine is an antique and it's called a Featherweight," she said. "It's a Centennial Edition and believe it or not it was made the same year I was born. These machines are made to work forever. Everything in this machine is metal, there's no plastic and you do have to care for it of course."

Volunteers from the high school's JROTC program also donated their time for the event.

Friday marked the third year the event took place in town.

Johnston said there are plans to have other events in the future and continue them annually.