Teen's sewing circle works to aid needy

Newhouse, 15, was nominated by a fellow congregant of Christ Community Church, Jim Morrow, who described her as a role model for young women.

"You spend so much time reading about all these self-indulgent people, like Britney Spears," he said. "It's nice to see someone who is giving and not just taking."

Newhouse came up with the idea for her sewing circle nearly two years ago, when she was 13, after a friend asked her to help make some quilts for a relative who was doing missionary work in Nigeria.

Although she knew how to sew, Newhouse hadn't quilted before, and didn't know whether she could do it on her own.

But then she happened to read two books about girls who started sewing circles, and decided she could do that, too, to help the needy.

She talked to a few friends, found a big craft room at a friend's home, then got some help from a friend's mother, who knew how to quilt. In January 2006, the group met for the first time. After just four get- togethers, members had seven blankets to send to Nigeria.

"Everyone worked so hard. It was so amazing," Newhouse said. "I just felt that God was telling me that it was the right thing to do, so I continued."

Since then, the group — called Reach Out — has moved its meetings to Christ Community Church, 7801 E. Kenyon Drive, and has grown to 15 to 20 people each gathering.

They knit and crochet and sew, in addition to quilting, too.

Members have made dozens of toiletry bags filled with supplies for the homeless; sent a package of 134 items, including hats, socks, gloves, scarves and even sweaters, to Russia; sent a care package of items to Uganda; donated to a local women's and children's shelter; and done a number of other projects for friends and relatives and others who were in bad situations.

Newhouse, who is home-schooled, also has helped the community in other ways, Morrow said. For example, she helped him last year with classes he teaches at the church. His wife, Rita, participates in the sewing circle, he said, so he's been aware of all the good Newhouse is doing. That started him thinking she should be honored.

"What do most 13-year-old kids do?" he asked. "They buy iPods and trendy clothes, and they hang out at malls and look at boys. And what does she do at 13? She sets up a sewing group to teach others the skills God gave her. And instead of keeping it, they donate their work to people who need it. I think we should have more role models like this for young women."

The Ben's Bells folks agreed. They honored Newhouse at the sewing circle's weekly gathering, on Tuesday.

"It was a total surprise," she said. "Thinking back, I probably could have figured out that something was up, but I was really busy trying to make sure everything was going right."

For instance, she said, her mother came to the meeting, which she can't do often because she has to care for her four younger children.

Then there was the video camera Mom took with her — though she said it was just to record some footage for her daughter's Web site. "And then Mr. Morrow was there," Newhouse said, "which is unusual. We never have any males!"

The day was special, she said, especially because her mother, Kim, and sisters, Moriah, 10, and Bethany, almost 8, also were there. But although Newhouse said she was happy to be "belled," she was quick to turn the praise back to her faith.

"I feel like I really don't deserve this," she said. "I really want to give God all the glory. I would not be able to do this without his help."

ben's bellings

The Ben's Bells project began in March 2003, one year after Ben Maré Packard died of croup, just before his third birthday. His family hopes it reminds people to be kind, to help ease one another's pain.

The latest phase of the project began in September 2005, weekly "bellings" for those among us who make our community a better, kinder place to live.

If you know people who deserve a Ben's Bell, nominate them to be "belled." Go to http://www.929themountain.com/pages/jennie_itm.html and click on Ben's Bells Project. To learn more about the project, go to http://www.bensbells.org. Or help work on bells by dropping by the studio, 816 E. University, in Geronimo Plaza. It's open 10-3 Wednesday; 2-7 Friday and 10-3 Saturday and Sunday.

And check the Star each Saturday to see the latest recipient.