Success StorySewing Volunteers Educate Youth and Adults
Sewing Volunteers Educate Youth and Adults
Author: Mary S Averbeck
Planning Unit: Kenton County CES
Major Program: Volunteer Engagement
Plan of Work: 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
There is high demand for sewing instruction for youth and adults in Kenton County. Eleven sewing volunteers meet this need. They teach workshops for youth and adults in beginning, intermediate and advanced clothing construction techniques, quilting, crafting, machine embroidery and creating fashion accessories. Over 882 hours in teaching and community service were provided by these ladies. Based on the value of $25.43 per hour for 2018 (according to Independent Sector, US. average), the collective volunteer time has a value of $22,429. Most schools no longer teach sewing. The cost of taking sewing instruction from retail centers is cost prohibitive for many citizens as sewing instructors in the local area charge $25 per hour. At this rate the sewing volunteers saved residents over $22,050. So the value of the volunteers’ contributions to the community exceeds $46,000 this year. The volunteers educated 1,446 people in the name of the Cooperative Extension Service in Kenton County. Evaluation was formal or informal. Skill achievement sheets were kept for youth learning to sew and completed projects were an indicator of success for both youth and adults. Youth also wrote achievement stories about their projects. Many volunteers led sewing projects in other venues like churches and schools. Some created quilts for foster youth or cancer pillows for adults. Not only did the individuals learning to sew benefit from increased self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment, but the greater community was culturally enriched as well.
Stories by Mary S Averbeck
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