You can keep our “Sewing School” in Homestead going!
Last year, 10 women completed 10 sewing lessons under the auspices of Temple Israel of Greater Miami and hosted by Centro Campesino. The women were former/current farm or plant nursery workers who wanted to learn to sew to help their families. But there was literally no place to learn sewing in the Homestead area!
Temple Israel donated the machines (ultimately gifted to the students) plus dollars for classes. When the teachers and a classroom were lined up, the lessons took off. Cristina and her daughter Joanna worked with women of various ages. They made little bags with zippers, side bags and aprons – items that can be refined for sale, too. They were so enthusiastic that we used the last remaining dollars from Temple Israel for 7 additional lessons. Measurements were taken, patterns were cut, and dresses/kids clothes were made from donated fabric. Just look at the photos!
The students came away with new skills and supplies to keep sewing at home – making clothes for their kids, altering pants/dresses and using their imaginations to make the most of what they have to work with. Truly inspiring!
Meanwhile, other women had been asking to join the classes, but there was no capacity for that. Why not keep going with more classes? Our Sewing ClassTeam agreed to move forward with new classes beginning January 2027 if we can raise the needed funds.
Por Todos – an organization out of Broward County that worked with Temple Israel during the first phase of the sewing class project – has now taken the lead to raise those funds. We need $7050 to extend the program with 2 more rounds of 16 classes with 10 students in each class.
You can keep this unique program going with a generous gift, and here are some suggestions: $200 buys a machine with cover; $100 funds the teachers for one class; $50 provides fabric; and $25 goes towards other sewing supplies. Every gift will help us meet our goal!
Centro Campesino will again host the classes, and your tax-deductible donations will flow through the Centro, a 501(c)(3):
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Click HERE and again on the Donate box in the upper right corner.
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Fill in the amount of your gift and hit the “Donate with Debit or Credit Card” or “Donate with Paypal” button.
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Please DO NOT use Venmo as we cannot track it.
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Write “For Sewing Class Fund” in the box that says “+Write a Note” or “Add a note to your donation” and fill in the rest of the needed information before hitting “Donate Now.”
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THANK YOU!!!
Your generosity will make a real difference in the lives of 20 women and their families!
