Mission 1: Toy Story (ACCOMPLISHED!)

The Community Transitional School is a private nonprofit school that serves homeless children in Multnomah county. No child who walks through their doors is ever turned away.

Students range in age from four to 14 (grades K to 8th grade). Some live with their transient families in cars, on neighbors couches and under bridges. Others live in domestic violence shelters, homeless family shelters or cheap motels.

The Community Transitional School operates year-round with short breaks, so students have regular access to additional supports. Students are provided with a door-to-door bus service, even if their unstable living situations change frequently. They are served a nutritious breakfast and lunch, and they have the option to bring a packaged dinner to their families. Volunteer dentists and optometrists visit the school to provide necessary dental work and eye exams. There is also an on-site nurse practitioner to provide basic health screening. Students have access to a clothing closet and hygiene products, as well.

In an effort to normalize their volatile lives, The Community Transitional School has organized an after school club and a volleyball sports team. Sports participation elsewhere is nonexistent due to equipment costs and inconsistent attendance. While traditional public schools make an effort to celebrate a variety of holidays in equal amounts and to use the appropriate language surrounding them, students at The Community Transitional School have not experienced the basic American holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Fourth of July--sometimes, even birthdays. The students feel removed from these American traditions, so the school celebrates them in order to reignite excitement and make the students feel like they play a vital role in the community as worthy citizens who eat, sing and dance together.

The Community Transitional School needs toys for this year's Christmas celebration. In a world filled with impermanence and plastic, hand-made fiber toys are virtually unknown. This is your chance to show off your skills and perhaps even inspire children who have never been exposed to a beautiful stitch, a unique print or a soothing textured fabric.

The story of your toy just might be woven into the greater story of these children's lives.

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Your mission should you choose to accept it: 

Make one or more toys out of scraps for the children at The Community Transitional School.

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Deadline
December 12, 2018
All deliveries must be arrive at the school by Dec. 12th. School closes for the holiday break at noon on the 13th.

Mandatory Supplies
Your scrap fabric! Scrap yarn works, too! Small bits of fabric, yarn and quilt batting are great for stuffing. Please do not buy new fabric or yarn.

Optional Supplies
Zippers, embroidery floss, buttons, snaps, elastic, stuffed animal eyes, yarn, wood roving--the possibilities are endless! Use the things you have!

Types of Toys
Anything that you can imagine: purses, balls, blocks, softies, dolls, bunting, coin purses, zippered pouches and bags, bookmarks, hair scrunchies, hair bands, etc.

Age Range
4 years old to 14 years old

Guidelines & Restrictions
-If your handmade creation doesn't feel worthy as a gift to your family and friends, then it should stay at home.
-Don't stress about perfection.

Resources/Ideas
-Explore the internet! It only took me seconds to find this free softie patterns link.
-Host a toy-making party!
-Host a stuffing party: pre-cut and assemble pieces; have friends bring their scrap fabric for stuffing!
-YOU are a creative ninja: have coffee with other creative ninjas and brainstorm projects together!

Shipping Address
Ship your completed toys to this address:

This mission has been accomplished--thank you!!!

And don't forget to add The People's Sewing Army in your return address! If you live in the Portland area, you can also hand-deliver your toy donation during regular office hours.

Supplies & Financial Contributions
If you feel compelled to further support The Community Transitional School, a financial contribution in any amount is most helpful for a nonprofit. There is a 'Supplies Wish List 'and 'Donate' button on their website. 

Share the Love
Share your makes with the army and world by posting a picture on Instagram using the hashtag #thepeoplessewingarmy. (Hint: to make your creation stand out, photograph it against a white wall and/or on top of a white piece of paper.)

IMPORTANT: Final Step!
Via Instagram, DM @thepeoplessewingarmy with this specific information (it is vital to track our progress and means everything for our success--please do not skip this final step!):
1) the number of toys made
2) the combined weight of those toys. You can weigh at post office before packaging or approximate weight on home scale.




Questions? Refer to the Instagram feed @thepeoplessewingarmy. Questions will not be answered on the blog.

BEST OF LUCK!!!