PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — One of the most valuable things you can give someone is your time. That's what volunteers do — they share their time and knowledge to help others learn. Sometimes they get more out of it than they're giving.
One day a week Sandra Hart visits Empath Health's Pace Center in Pinellas Park to share a talent she's mastered over many years — sewing. Along the way, she's stitched together a second family.
"I've been sewing since I was a child. I used to make my own clothes when I was young."
For the last 10 years, Hart has been spending her Tuesdays teaching others how to sew.
"This group is just great," she said. "It's like a family. Like the old-fashioned sewing bees or quilting circles. We all get together, we talk about families, recipes, health, current event issues. You name it, we talk about it."
Tracie Sutton is the volunteer coordinator.
"So often we think of our seniors as people we have to do for and we don't allow them to do for others," Sutton said. "And here they love these activities because they get to give back to their community."
And this sewing group is giving back, making pillows to help comfort others.
"There's what we call peanut pillows, those are used for support. We also make the curved neck pillows. We have made heart pillows which are used for hospice patients to hold onto."
A circle of giving that Sandra says everyone appreciates.
"Sometimes someone from either the care center or from physical therapy will come out and tell the group how much they appreciate what they're doing," Hart said. "And we like to remind everyone too, that these things are for the benefit of someone else. And you know I think that makes everybody feel good that you can do something for someone else."
Empath Health has many volunteer opportunities for all ages. Click here for more information.