Calgary Charity Sewing Opportunities

Updated 25-January-2026

The following organisations are looking for donated items that can be sewn.

Parachutes for Pets (pet beds) 🆕

All about Parachutes for Pets

Calgary Sews has volunteered to provide pet beds to Parachutes for Pets in 2026, and beyond! We encourage our followers to sew pet beds for this organisation, and will step up when there is an urgent need.

Parachutes for Pets understands that pets need their people — and people need their pets. They step in during times of crisis, whether responding to urgent community needs or offering personal support when someone is temporarily unable to care for their pet for a variety of reasons.

They need beds for the smallest kitten or puppy all the way up to the largest dog. There is a constant need and they would love to be able to send animals home with their own bed!

Pet bed requirements:

Cotton fabric that can be washed and dried on high heat
Fabric and decorations should be smooth. Nothing that can be caught on a claw or chewed off.
Bed filling or batting should be cotton. Cotton towels make great batting!
Smallest recommended size – about 18″ x 12″ (45x30cm)
Largest recommended size – big enough for a large dog

Pet beds can be dropped off at several different locations throughout Calgary. If you make and donate beds, please let Parachutes for Pets know that you’re a member of the Calgary Sews community.

Good Neighbour (clothing & shopping bags) 🆕

Good Neighbour is a pay-what-you-can market in Calgary. They accept donations of pretty much everything including adult garments, shoes, and bags.

Many thrift stores don’t accept me-made garments for a variety of reasons. Our members have confirmed that Good Neighbour does accept me-mades that are in good condition.

Good Neighbour has two locations for drop off, and they will also pick up!

They also have a need for shopping bags. One of our members showed us a simple way to upcycle old t-shirts into shopping bags. Check this post for details!

*If you are donating me-made garments and would like to add a size or care label, one option is to create labels on your printer then iron them in. I bought some Cricut sheets, ran them through my HP printer, then ironed them in to some garments. Worked like a charm and the labels aren’t scratchy. No Cricut needed! Avery also makes similar labels.

Meow Foundation (Calgary)

Meow Foundation Volunteer Crafters

Are you a passionate sewer, knitter, or crocheter? Volunteer your time and talents to MEOW by making hand-made items like pet beds and pads, catnip toys, pet hats, snuffle mats and balls, aprons, bowl cozies and more. The Meow Foundation sells these handmade items at markets, MEOW Charity Thrift Shop, and online to help generate revenue to help fund their programs.

MEOW provides all the materials, instructions and required patterns. You provide your own sewing/serger machines as needed.

Dress A Girl Around the World

This is an international movement that collects handmade dresses and distributes them to girls in parts of the world where girls may never have their own new dress. The project demonstrates to girls that they are worthy of something new and their very own.

In Calgary, dresses are collected by two ambassadors (dale.lynne.m@gmail.com and nadar52@gmail.com.) Dresses can also be delivered to Samaritan’s Purse (NE Calgary near the airport) to be included in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Samaritan’s Purse also collects dresses year-round!

Dresses need to be simple. Sewn in cotton/poly or cotton fabric. No patriotic symbols or Disney characters, and no white. Because the dresses may be washed by hand and subject to harsh conditions – no zippers, no buttons, no trim that can fall off because there may be no way to repair the dress.

There are free patterns available on the Project Dress A Girl website … and more contacts if you’re not in the Calgary area.

Made by Mamma

The Calgary Sews Meetup group sewed for Made by Momma in winter 2024/25. Several of our members made beautiful and thoughtful items that were shared with this organisation. Made by Momma always has needs! If this organisation speaks to you, we encourage you to sew something and deliver it to them. Pictures of the items that our group made are below. ❤️

The following items are on their donation list and many can be sewn up quickly in scrap fabric (especially baby and toddler clothes):