SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - In the warm Saturday morning light to the tune of sewing machines, volunteer sewists of all levels joined in the Central Library Galleria to produce a variety of cold-weather items for underserved community members in the region. 

Hosted in partnership by local nonprofit Broad Room and the Sacramento Public Library, volunteers manned stations to sew mittens, neck gaiters, dog jackets, drawstring pouches and mending kits.

 Once completed, items are distributed to community members through mutual aid networks or by participants themselves. To reduce waste, the event utilized donated fabric and hosted a fabric swap among participants. 

For participant and co-organizer Maris Kaplan, the event amplifies the strength of community.

“There’s something special about people coming together, no matter their experience level, to hand-make these items for people who need them,” Kaplan said. 

“Because of events like these, we’re fostering friendships and collective action.”

In addition to hosting community sew-a-thons, Broad Room’s warehouse location on Del Paso Boulevard is home to a Free Art Supply Closet and space for local artists to host workshops. The Free Art Supply Closet comprises donated new and gently used art supplies from the community and has served over 5,000 since opening in 2020. Community members interested in donating art supplies can schedule an appointment on Broad Room’s website. 

For more information about Broad Room and future community sew-a-thons, visit broadroom.org.