One of the various hats worn by Holly Borthwick, Salisbury High School’s Family and Consumer Science teacher, is adviser for the Sewing for Charity Club.

“Many people have lost touch with the skill [of sewing],” Borthwick said, a still useful and, at times, necessary skill. As part of the curriculum, she offers a textile course in which students learn machine sewing, pattern use and fabric construction. The projects are functional.

Borthwick explained she brings the time-honored skill of sewing into the 21st century by focusing her instruction on “objects and items [her students] can use in [their] future lives.” A project she has dubbed the Falcon Fix-It dovetails nicely with the STEM initiative. (As stated on the Best Colleges website, “STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math ... fields [that emphasize] innovation, problem solving and critical thinking.”)

As part of the textile course, students recycle or upgrade used and worn items; the items are mended and/or repurposed rather than discarded. Students must demonstrate their mastery of basic sewing techniques as well as troubleshoot and problem solve.

Students who have taken the textile course often opt to join the Sewing for Charity Club. Members of the Sewing for Charity Club create and sell articles to raise money for worthy causes.

Working as a unit, students construct hair scrunchies and teddy bears. No bear is made by a single worker. Some are fabric cutters; some are seam sewers and some stuff teddies.

Working to help others energizes the students and sensitizes them to difficult situations beyond their experiences. Since the 2018-2019 school year when the club was officially recognized, their commitment has remained intact.

In 2020 COVID-19 restrictions made meeting in person and receiving hands-on support untenable. Despite the difficulties, club members produced 17 comfort teddy bears which they donated to Salisbury’s Police and Fire and Rescue personnel for distribution to children impacted by traumatic events.

September 2022 found club members back in school and anxious to fully resume their activities. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month so club members held a purple scrunchie sale focused on promoting awareness of domestic violence. The project netted $600 which was donated to Turning Point of Lehigh Valley.

For Valentine’s Day, they turned their attention to needs within the school community. Salisbury School District Social Worker Jill Williams addressed the students on the needs of families and children within the district. According to senior Stuart Carl, “There’s a lot more to homelessness than what’s seen in the movies – it’s mind boggling.”

Although the district employs a social worker, she does not receive funding to supply families in need with basic necessities. The group agreed with club member Olivia Ringholm’s assessment of Williams’s presentation as “really inspiring” and organized a Valentine’s Day teddy bear and scrunchie sale. The charming bears and bright scrunchies scored a hit. The club raised $750 to assist struggling local families. “That’s a lot of bears,” Carl said.

A summer project is under consideration.

Borthwick refers to her own sewing prowess as “ ... a gift from my mother.” It is a gift she shares with her students which they use to share their compassion with the community.