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/

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

August 12: Sew Day at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Monday, August 12: 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.)

August 13: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, August 13: 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.)

August 14: Two Crafty Mooses Sew Day

Join us at Two Crafty Mooses (1806 Bryan Rd. Brand, FL 33511) on Wednesday, August 14: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  Please email (twocraftymooses@gmail.com) or call (813-629-4415) to reserve your spot – space is limited!

**Cancelled** August 20: Quilter’s Haven & More Sew Day

Join us at Quilter’s Haven & More (925 10th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221) on Tuesday, August 20: 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.)

August 28: Viking Sewing Gallery – Joann Brandon Sew Day

Join us at the Viking Sewing Gallery Classroom inside Joann Fabrics (11215 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511) on Wednesday, August 28: 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.)

September is MOPS (Miles of Pillowcase Smiles) Month.  Our goal this year is do 5,000 pillowcases during September. We can do it, with YOUR help – come to a sew day, drop off completed cases at a drop off location (listed on the left), organize a sew day with your friends (we’ll come help), donate fabric (minimum of 1/4 yard by width of fabric).  There’s always a way people can help. Contact our coordinator, Jamie Hendrickx (jamie.hendrickx@gmail.com or 813-786-0991) if you have questions or would like to help us achieve our goal this year.  Thank you for helping the children Feel Better to Heal Better!

Sept 3 – Sept 7: Sew WEEK at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) for an entire week of pillowcase work and fun. Tuesday – Saturday 10am-2pm each day.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals. Let’s kick MOPS month off right with a big week!! 

Sept 10: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, Sept 10: 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:  Viking Sewing Gallery – Joann Brandon Sew Day

Join us at the Viking Sewing Gallery Classroom inside Joann Fabrics (11215 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511) on Wednesday, Sept 11: 10am-2pm.  We will make fun, bright pillowcases to distribute to children in 10 bay area hospitals.  

Sept 17: Quilter’s Haven & More Sew Day

Join us at Quilter’s Haven & More (925 10th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221) on Tuesday, Sept 17: 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 25:  Viking Sewing Gallery – Joann Brandon Sew Day

Join us at the Viking Sewing Gallery Classroom inside Joann Fabrics (11215 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511) on Wednesday, Sept 25: 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.)

Oct 8: Maureen Gauzza Library Sew Day

Join us at the Maureen Gauzza Library (11211 Countryway Blvd., Tampa, FL 33626) on Tuesday, Oct 8: 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 14: Sew Day at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing

Join us at Inspire! Quilting and Sewing (101 N. Collins St. Plant City, FL 33563) on Monday, Oct 14: 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 15: Quilter’s Haven & More Sew Day

Join us at Quilter’s Haven & More (925 10th St E, Palmetto, FL 34221) on Tuesday, Oct 15: 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 23:  Viking Sewing Gallery – Joann Brandon Sew Day

Join us at the Viking Sewing Gallery Classroom inside Joann Fabrics (11215 Causeway Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511) on Wednesday, Oct 23: 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.)

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.