NEWS & EVENTS

Welcome to our Chapter. We hope you will join us in helping children feel better to heal better. 

Stay healthy, Pillowcase Warriors, we need our village strong! 

Want to stay informed of everything that is going on with our Tampa Bay Chapter?  Follow us on Facebook at //www.facebook.com/caseforsmilestampabay/

MOPS IS HERE!!  

September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and what better time than to host our largest annual campaign, MOPS.  MOPS (Miles of Pillowcase Smiles) is our annual national campaign when volunteers across North America come together to sew 40,000 pillowcases – one for every child in cancer treatment in the US.  The goal for our Tampa Bay chapter is to sew and/or collect 5,000 pillowcases during this one month.  With our community’s support, we know we can do it!   Want to help us?  Come to a sew day (listed below) or contact coordinator, Jamie Hendrickx (jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com) if you would like help arranging your own sew day.  Donations of fabric, time, & money are always gratefully accepted.

Upcoming Sew Days

How can you help?

• Sew pillowcases and drop them off at a drop off site.
• Donate child friendly fabric
• Donate funds for us to purchase fabric (all donations are 100% tax deductible)
• Donate your time – come help us make pillowcases at a sew day
• Organize your own sew day with your friends or community – contact coordinator Jamie Hendrickx at jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com if you would like help

 

**No sew days at 2 Crafty Mooses for Sept – Nov.**

Mooses gotta moose!  They are off Moosing through the countryside doing moosy things at quilt shows this fall.  Follow their progress on their Facebook page by clicking HERE. Look for our return to this location in December.  They are still a drop off site for those of you in the Brandon area – just call first to arrange a time (813-629-4415)

Sept. 1-5: Inspire! Quilting and Sewing Sew-A-Thon!  

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Mon Sept 1-Fri Sept 5: 10am-2pm for our annual week long Sew-A-Thon to kick of MOPS month.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  This is a party every year and snacks will be provided.

Sept. 9: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, Sept 9: 10am-4pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is the second Tuesday of every month.)

Sept. 11: Rainbow’s End Sew Day ***CANCELLED due to medical issue***

Join us at Rainbow’s End (1080 Kapp Dr., Clearwater, FL 33765) on Thursday, Sept. 11: 10:30am-3:30pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the second Thursday of the month.)

Sept. 16: Flash Sew & Quilt 

Join us at Flash Sew & Quilt (935 N. Beneva Rd #201, Sarasota, FL 34232) on Tuesday, Sept 16: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the third Tuesday of the month.)

Sept. 24:  1 Voice Foundation & Academy

Join us at the 1 Voice Academy (1935 Camp Florida Rd, Brandon, FL 33510) on Wednesday, Sept 24: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the fourth Wednesday of the month.) We are very excited to partner with this amazing local organization.  This is a school for children with cancer which means the children attending are often immune compromised.  Please be considerate when deciding to attend – we ask that if you have the slightest indication of any illness that you choose not to come as the children on site are very vulnerable.  We also request that no other children be brought to the events at this location due to risk of possible infections.  We will be running a normal sew day at this location creating cases for children in the hospitals.  

 

Oct 9: Rainbow’s End Sew Day

Join us at Rainbow’s End (1080 Kapp Dr., Clearwater, FL 33765) on Thursday, Oct 9: 10:30am-3:30pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the second Thursday of the month.)

Oct 13: Inspire! Quilting and Sewing Sew Day

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Monday, Oct 13: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is the second Monday of every month.)

Oct 14: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, Oct 14: 10am-4pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is the second Tuesday of every month.)

Oct 21: Flash Sew & Quilt 

Join us at Flash Sew & Quilt (935 N. Beneva Rd #201, Sarasota, FL 34232) on Tuesday, Oct 21: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the third Tuesday of the month.)

Oct 22:  1 Voice Foundation & Academy

Join us at the 1 Voice Academy (1935 Camp Florida Rd, Brandon, FL 33510) on Wednesday, Oct 22: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the fourth Wednesday of the month.) We are very excited to partner with this amazing local organization.  This is a school for children with cancer which means the children attending are often immune compromised.  Please be considerate when deciding to attend – we ask that if you have the slightest indication of any illness that you choose not to come as the children on site are very vulnerable.  We also request that no other children be brought to the events at this location due to risk of possible infections.  We will be running a normal sew day at this location creating cases for children in the hospitals.  

Oct 24: Lakewood Ranch Library 

Join us at the Lakewood Ranch Library (16410 Rangeland Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211) on Friday Oct 24: 9am-1pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This is a one-time event for now.  It may become a repeating sew day – stay tuned!)

 

Nov 10: Inspire! Quilting and Sewing Sew Day

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Monday, Nov 10: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is the second Monday of every month.)

Nov 11: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, Nov 11: 10am-4pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is the second Tuesday of every month.)

Nov 13: Rainbow’s End Sew Day

Join us at Rainbow’s End (1080 Kapp Dr., Clearwater, FL 33765) on Thursday, Nov 13: 10:30am-3:30pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the second Thursday of the month.)

Nov 18: Flash Sew & Quilt 

Join us at Flash Sew & Quilt (935 N. Beneva Rd #201, Sarasota, FL 34232) on Tuesday, Nov 18: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  (This event is on the third Tuesday of the month.)

Videos:

Pillowcase Instructions:  From how to cut the fabric to how to finish the case on either a sewing machine or a surger, this video has it all!  https://youtu.be/0beMuQUahBA

3 Minute Pillowcase all on a surger featuring our Speed Demon volunteer, Nancy Pridmore:  https://youtu.be/HfgC8aFN_Sk

 

 

Ways to help:

• Come to a sew day: Bring your sewing machine or serger and a basic sewing kit (thread, scissors, needles, etc.). You don’t have to know how to sew to help at a sew day.  We will teach you!!  We also need help ironing, bagging, counting, and boxing the cases.
• Donate Money for fabric: Monetary donations for pillowcases is always welcome and much needed! There are no paid positions in this organization – we are all volunteers.  100% of the money donated buys fabric for pillowcases.  All other supplies are donated.  You can donate through the website by clicking the “Donate Now” button in the upper right corner of your screen and choosing “Florida-Tampa Bay” in the “Chapter” field.  You can also donate in person at any sew day.  If you would like to donate by mail, contact coordinator Jamie Hendrickx by email at jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com.
• Hold your own sew day! Gather a group of friends, co-workers, church members, neighbors, or other group and hold your own sew day.  Need help running it?  Have questions?  Contact us!  We’ll help you! Contact coordinator Jamie Hendrickx at jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com.
• Make pillowcases and drop them off at one of the convenient drop off locations. Directions to make a pillowcase can be found here:  //caseforsmiles.org/get-involved/#sew   Several quilt shops in the area have generously offered to be drop off locations for anyone wishing to contribute pillowcases.  Be sure to check the shop’s website for the hours of operation.