MISSOULA — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was known for many things including public service, which is why some choose to give back with their day off in January.
The Confident Stitch in Missoula -- and its customer base -- commits to a day of service on MLK day sewing things for non-profits in the area.
“Nationwide I think people see Martin Luther King Day as a day to give back," Confident Stitch owner Kate Mcivor said.
This year’s project was for the Poverello Center, which needed to turn surgical materials into sleeping bags for some of its at risk homeless population.
The Confident Stitch went to work all day turning insulated, waterproof and durable material into sleeping bags that otherwise would have been thrown away.
Mcivor says it took a group of her customers over three hours to turn 64 surgical wraps into 16 sleeping bags.
"Quite a few of us have the day off and you can spend an hour or two volunteering at a place like the confident stitch to make things for people who are less fortunate,” said Mcivor. “It feels great to help people who are homeless and it feels great to use our addiction slash hobby for good."
The idea came from the Poverello Center who had seen the sleeping bags made in other states around the country.
The Confident Stitch hopes to continue the project going into the future.