- April 14, 2025
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BTES sewing club members, Flagler Humane Society Community Outreach coordinator Gary Perkins and pitbull-terrior mix Sperry pose with their pillows. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sixth-grader Gavin Winfree sews. Photo by Paige Wilson
A table layered with pillows continues to grow as the students make more to donate to the humane society. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler Humane Society pitbull-terrior mix Sperry enjoys the affection from the students. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sixth-grader Rachel Linares sews a pillow. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler Humane Society Community Outreach coordinator Gary Perkins Photo by Paige Wilson
Sixth-graders Edward Gomes-Rebelo and Julianna Klinger-Garcia begin their new project: pillow cases. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sixth-grader Lily Mota sews a pillow. Photo by Paige Wilson
After the school day ended at Belle Terre Elementary School, one classroom became even more lively as about 15 sixth-graders buzzed around sewing fabric and stuffing pillows.
A pile of colorfully-printed pillows on a table grew one by one as the students finished their projects — just in time for Flagler Humane Society Community Outreach coordinator Gary Perkins to stop by with Sperry, a pitbull-terrior mix from the shelter.
The students make up the BTES sewing club, a new club started in February. Over the last few months, they've learned sewing safety, skills and techniques. On Tuesday, April 23, their hard work paid off when they donated about 30 pillows for the cats and dogs at the humane society.
Perkins thanked the students for their generosity and assured them their effort will comfort the society's animals while they wait to be adopted into forever homes.
"I feel good in my soul," sixth-grader Edward Gomes-Rebelo said about helping create pillows for the animals. "I feel like I did something good for once."
BTES teachers and club leaders Cassie Meyers and Ana Fajardo couldn't be more happy with their students.
The club hit the ground running in February, thanks to a donation of 20 brand-new sewing machines from Palm Coast business Cut Up and Sew.
Meyers said the community support the club has received has been amazing, as fellow staff members and even strangers have donated fabric and supplies along the way.
The club meets every Tuesday from 3:30-5 p.m. Meyers said 25 students are signed up for the club — half of which are boys.
"They're eager to learn these life skills because they don't have home-ec classes anymore to learn all this," Meyers said.
Their next project will be to make two pillow cases — one for them and one for a child in an area children's hospital.
Meyers said the students are continuing to show enthusiasm for the club.
"They come in during their recess and sew," Meyers said. "We had a few that stayed yesterday until 5 o'clock."
Some of the students are even taking the initiative to sew once they go home too.
Edward said he's helped his brother mend a pair of pants.
Sixth-grader Julianna Klingner-Garcia said her dad surprised her with a sewing machine to practice more at home.
"These skills will come in handy; I promise you that," Perkins said to the students.
Visit https://flaglerhumanesociety.org.
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