The Old Homosassa Learning Center (OHLC) is booming with programs almost every day for adults and music enrichment for children two afternoons a week. I get calls nearly every week from people interested in giving classes and I gladly listen to their ideas. In coming weeks OHLC will be offering Belly Dancing classes and adding an art course to the current busy schedule!

Two years ago the Old Homosassa Learning Center initiated the Adult Learning Series with the Sew Cool! Workshop. A member of the Homosassa Civic Club, Faith Peix, volunteered to run the workshop as the coach. The popular program continues every Thursday from 12:30 until 3:00 and Faith’s mother Geraldine Callahan also has come on board to help out.

Many people are downsizing in our community and moving to a home that does not have room for their sewing hobby. The workshop has been very fortunate to receive generous donations of fabrics, sewing machines, irons and other necessary sewing supplies. In addition, the Old Homosassa Heritage Council goes through the yard sale donations at their annual fundraiser prior to the sale and give any sewing supplies and fabric storage to the program. Because of these donations, members of our community can learn how to sew for free–not even spending money for a sewing machine or supplies. It’s really a great program!

Sewists—beginning through advanced—come from all over the area to take part in the weekly workshop. Faith and Geraldine work with all that attend. In addition, there are other experts that stop in and are happy to assist the beginners. The participants can work on any project and go at their own speed. Recent projects have included vests, skirts, aprons, totes, doll clothes, pillows, and quilts.

The donations do not just help out the member of the Sew Cool! Workshop. Recently a young lady asked if she could use some of the fabric and notions to supplement her own supplies to use for her Gold Award Project for Girl Scouts. Of course, the OHLC agreed!

Fifteen years old and a Girl Scout Senior, she is designing and hand-crafting enrichment fidget mats for those afflicted by Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Old Homosassa Learning Center is a committee of the Homosassa Civic Club as is the Homosassa Arts, Crafts, and Seafood Festival. Proceeds from the Festival support the Old Homosassa Learning Center. The Sew Cool! Workshop is a great program that benefits many people in our community thanks to the generosity of the Homosassa Civic Club and the many donations to the program.