Community Sewing Volunteering
Thank you for your interest in becoming a WakeMed sewing volunteer. Your time, talents and skills will be greatly appreciated.
The contributions of handmade blankets, huggables, lap robes, booties, surgical caps, etc., brighten the lives of our patients and their families.
Requirements & Considerations Before Applying To Become a Sewing Volunteer
- 16 years of age or older
- Able to provide contributions of handmade items at least once every three months to remain active.
- Able to drop off or mail your donations to the Volunteer Services Department at WakeMed Raleigh Campus or WakeMed Cary Location
- Cary Hospital — 1900 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518 / 919-350-2363
- Raleigh Campus — 3000 New Bern Ave, Raleigh, NC 27610 / 919-350-8293
- We do not accept applications for court-ordered community service hours.
United States veteran honored with this patriotic blanket.
Expectant couple with a handmade sweater and hat.
Roseanna at 100 years old was thrilled to receive this crocheted bear.
Harvey was comforted by this handmade blanket.
Fill out the sewing volunteer application that corresponds to the volunteer location you wish to donate your handmade items. If you have questions please email us at: volunteerdonations@wakemed.org
Donation policies for accepting and distributing Community Sewing handmade items:
- Items must be made from new or washed fabric, fleece or yarn.
- No wool handmade items accepted.
- Items must be free of scents including pet odors, household odors, musty odors, cigarette smoke, cooked food odors and scented laundry products. If you are washing your items or fabric, use only unscented laundry products. This may include detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets.
- Do not attach buttons, sequins, faux flowers, tags or labels,
- Check and double check that items are free of pins or other sharp objects at each stage of the sewing production and at completion of your project. Closely inspect polyfill or batting thoroughly before stuffing dolls/toys and during quilting process to make sure they are free of pins.
- Please refrain from donating items with political, religious or discriminatory content or content that may not be suitable for all audiences in our community.
- Hospital policy precludes us from allowing advertising on individual handmade items.
- Place clean, dry items in a sealed bag (tied bags ok) or zippered quilt bags. Multiple items per bag is okay.
- Contact the Volunteer office for pick up or drop off of handmade items.
- Volunteer Services will provide volunteer or group with donation tracking sheet that can be turned in with donations.
- We will donate items not meeting WakeMed’s criteria to charitable organizations within the community.
Follow the Blanket
There is something about spreading joy to others that sends an overflow of feel-good endorphins to those that volunteer. Volunteer Services has over 29 sewing groups and individual sewers who sew, knit and crotchet to make handmade items for patients. Friendly Face volunteers take the donated handmade items and travel room-to-room, visiting patients and giving patients an item made and distributed with love.
Follow the Blanket and learn more about the impact WakeMed Volunteers make each day in the lives of patients and their families.
