Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night
at The Art Garden in Shelburne Falls, MA
DIY Mittens & Scarves for Families in Transition
Friday, January 17th, 2014 from 4-7pm

Engaging your family in community service teaches kids positive values while opening up channels of communication between parent and child, and can increase their participation as future volunteers. Join us for an evening of community service art-making on Friday, Jan. 17th from 4-7pm at The Art Garden in Shelburne Falls, MA, for DIY Mittens & Scarves for Families in Transition, the second in a series of five free family community service nights!

What better gift to receive in the winter than a warm pair of handmade mittens or cozy handmade scarf; and what better gift to give to someone in your community than something you have lovingly made?

On Friday, January 17th from 4-7pm, Hilltown Families will be hosting a Free Family Community Service Night with The Art Garden in Shelburne Falls.  We are inviting families to join us for an evening of DIY Mittens & Scarves for Families in Transition. Come with an outgrown felted wool sweater, and/or fleece outerwear to be repurposed into easy-to-sew mittens and scarves to donate to New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT).  No previous experience is needed and there will be tasks for all ages…

Please “felt” your wool sweaters prior to the event by washing them the way you are NOT normally supposed to (DIY directions: Hot-wash, cold-rinse on regular with a load of laundry. Dry high heat.). Felting shrinks the sweaters and binds the fibers… and/or bring fleece outerwear to repurpose.

All mittens and scarves will be donated to NELCWIT. Based in Greenfield with offices in Athol, Orange, Buckland, and Turner Falls, NELCWIT offers safety and empowerment for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Franklin County. Their free programs include counseling and advocacy for individuals who are dealing with or survivors of domestic and sexual violence; counseling and advocacy for children who have witnessed violence; a 24 hour rape crisis and domestic violence hotline; safe homes and referrals to safe shelter; and court advocacy.

Join us in Shelburne Falls for an evening of art and community service, repurposing outgrown felted wool sweaters and fleece outerwear into mittens and scarves to donate to NELCWIT. If time allows, families will also be invited to make a second set to take and give to a neighbor or elder in their community.  This is a free event and open to all.  All supplies and instructions are provided, except for felted sweaters and/or fleece outwear.  Please BYO.

DIY Mittens & Scarves for Families in Transition is the second of a series of five Free Friday Family Community Service Nights that Hilltown Families and The Art Garden are offering through the spring, thanks to a grant from the Xeric Foundation. All materials included. Space is limited for this free event and pre-registration encouraged. Our first event was Serving of Art: Placemat Making held this past December.

The Art Garden is located at 14 Depot Street in Shelburne Falls, MA (in the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum building.) SEE MAP. Questions? Email Sienna at swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org.