A Community Sew Day took place April 22 at AZ-One Community Center, according to a press release.

Area women gather twice per year to use their talents to sew items for others. Community Sew Day is a part of Shinefest and the local AZ-One Community. Pre-assembled kits are available to sew, including girls’ dresses, boys’ shirts and shorts, care bags, crib sheets, pillowcases, and quilts.

A local man will be taking the children’s clothing items to Africa later this summer. Simon Tut

visited the Community Sew Day event and told the women of his upcoming trip. He will be travelling to Ethiopia and South Sudan. There, he will distribute the clothing the refugee camps, where the need is great.

Helping those in need is a driving force for the Community Sew Day organizers and participants.

Care bags are sewn and filled with personal care items. These care bags have been distributed

to Reach & Restore, Inc, in Hopkins, as well as given locally to Youth for Christ.

Pillowcases, crib sheets and some quilts — and clothing in the past — have been sent to a

Children’s Home and School in Bogota.

Some quilts stay in Albert Lea and are distributed during the Shinefest picnic, which culminates

Shinefest’s week-long projects in selected neighborhoods each year. Other quilts are given to

Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge in the Twin Cities.

The next Community Sew Day will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 at AZ-One Community Center on West Clark St. Anyone who enjoys sewing is invited to bring their machine and join in the blessings received through helping others.