Kathleen Thompson
There were lots of smiles on this special day, but none happier than that of Joana Cano, a Mountain Vista School student with the Teens Sew Cool after-school sewing program for teen and preteen students. Joana may have been a little suspicious when her mother and school principal, Ms. Crystle Gallegos, just happened to show up for class, but there was no disguising her excitement when she was awarded with a brand-new Brother Simplicity SB700T sewing machine. Joana was selected by the Teens Sew Cool Mentors/Teachers due to her outstanding achievements in the TSC program. She started out in September 2016 with no previous sewing experience. But with hard work and persistence, she has become skilled, independent and creative in her sewing, finishing many projects each semester. Family members report that Joana is always smiling when she comes home from a TSC session; she loves showing off her newest creation. Joana says that she will start out making decorative pillow cases and snap bags this summer on her new machine, but someday, she would love to make her own Quinceanera dress. She is off to a great start with Jeanne Soling and other TSC mentors providing special instruction on the new machine, which is more sophisticated than the classroom machines and should keep Joana sewing for years to come.
Teens Sew Cool would like to thank the SaddleBrooke Rotary and the SaddleBrooke Community Outreach for their generous grants this year that allowed Teens Sew Cool to purchase the sewing machines for Joana and other students earlier in the school year. Teens Sew Cool would also like to thank Cathey’s Sewing and Vacuum for their continued support of our organization. Cathey’s will be providing Joana with a series of lessons for learning more about how to use the features of her new machine.
Teens Sew Cool is a non-profit organization which provides sewing instruction for teens and preteens with the goal of giving them skills for future use with the family or even for income production. TSC mentors often provide one-on-one assistance as students, both boys and girls, gain skills and have fun learning to sew. TSC sessions are offered during the fall and spring at Oracle Mountain Vista and San Manuel Jr/Sr High schools, at no cost to students. Each session, students complete a variety of projects and participate in a community project, such as making stuffed animals for needy children. Classes usually fill early and many students continue with the program for several years as they develop advanced skills. The TSC mentors are from SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, Oro Valley and Oracle.
For more information, or if you would like to donate fabrics or supplies or become a mentor, contact Teens Sew Cool at our website www.teenssewcool.org.