North Florida Sewing Center Grand Opening to be held October 8

Press release from North Florida Sewing Center

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida Sewing Center invites everyone to their Grand Opening to be held on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from noon to 4 p.m., at 826 NW 23rd Avenue. Although newly certified as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the North Florida Sewing Center has been “stitching for good” for almost ten years.  

It started out as a Girl Scout Troop Journey project to make reusable, washable menstrual pads to help girls stay in school in Africa. Now the North Florida Sewing Center has grown into a very active hub of activities where 500-1000 unique volunteers help each year, making pads for menstruation or incontinence, quilts for people transitioning out of homelessness, and beds for companion animals. Other projects are added as needed including face masks, heating pads, Angel Gowns, and more.  

The North Florida Sewing Center is entirely run by volunteers. NFSC offers a robust internship program for teens and adults that includes training in sewing, non-sewing jobs, and outreach. Local outreach work is sponsored by the Kotranza Family Fund and other donors and includes tabling at events, public speaking, and teaching at community partner sites like shelters and resource centers. In addition, NFSC also offers workshops and classes to the public in Practical Sewing Skills, machine sewing, quilting, crocheting, etc.

The North Florida Sewing Center also distributes its pads internationally with the help of travelers going on trips for missions or family visits. So far this year, NFSC has served 2,248 overseas and 1,146 local residents with pads to manage menstruation or incontinence. And 56 quilts have already been donated to local adults in shelters transitioning into housing.  

Learn more about the North Florida Sewing Center on October 8. There will be tours, displays, hands-on activities, and refreshments, with a presentation given at 1 p.m. No matter one’s skills or experience, NFSC has volunteer opportunities to suit.  NFSC is a community service site for Court Services and Bright Futures aspirants and is accredited for many UF student majors.