Sewing for the care and comfort of homeless pets
Once a week, amid wagging tails and purring companions at the Richmond SPCA, is the gentle hum of sewing machines and the chatter of dedicated volunteers. Welcome to the Sewing Club, where every stitch is woven with love and compassion for our furry friends.
This group gathers every Saturday in the auditorium of the Robins-Starr Humane Center to embark on a journey of creativity and kindness. Armed with needles, thread and a passion for making a difference, these volunteers devote their time and skills to various projects aimed at improving the lives of animals in our care.
From crafting colorful bandanas that are sold at fundraisers to sewing cozy kitten blankets for our Foster Care program, the Sewing Club’s contributions are as diverse as the animals we care for. They mend toys for our playful residents and even create covers for the humane traps used in our Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program at our Smoky’s Spay & Neuter Clinic, ensuring the safety and comfort of every creature that passes through our doors.
Among the dedicated members of our Sewing Club are two remarkable women whose passion for sewing is matched only by their love for animals.
With two decades of volunteering under her belt, Judy Waldron is a seasoned member of our team. Drawn to the Sewing Club by her love for crafting and her desire to contribute, she has lent her expertise to a myriad of projects over the years. From crafting cat hammocks that flew off our gift shop shelves to mending beds and toys with meticulous care, Judy’s dedication knows no bounds. For her, the most rewarding aspect of volunteering lies in the joy of creating something truly useful for our furry friends.
Debbie Coward’s journey with the Sewing Club began in 2017, driven by a deep desire to honor the memory of her beloved feline companion, Thomas. Inspired by the cat hammocks she encountered during her shifts in our laundry room, Debbie eagerly joined the club after honing her sewing skills through a class offered by Henrico County. Since then, Debbie has poured her heart into creating comfort for our animals, from adorable cat hammocks to durable trap covers for our feral friends. For Debbie, the Sewing Club is not just about crafting, but about finding solace in the company of fellow animal lovers and making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most.
In every stitch, the members of our Sewing Club weave a tapestry of compassion and care for the animals who depend on us. Their dedication and creativity exemplify the spirit of volunteerism that lies at the heart of our organization. So, the next time you see a colorful bandana adoring a furry neck or a cozy kitten curled up in a soft blanket, know that it was crafted with love by the talented hands of our Sewing Club volunteers.
