Reported by Karen Li
Posted by Karen Li
On 10/13/2024, AGAPE Special Needs Program Aylus support group met at Russell Creek Park for pet toys making training. We are planning to teach our special needs friends to make pet toys during the activity time of the weekly get-together.
Before the training event, each member collected old fabric/clothes that are too old/broken to be directly donated. Then the clothes were washed clean. Since it was the first time for most of us making the pet toys, Karen and Ellie Zhou helped us through the process. We first started by examining all the fabric we had collected to choose which one could be used to make the pet toys. It turned out old-Tshirt would fit the most. Then we cut the old T-shirt into long strips and braided them into the respected pet toys.
We each first made two or three pet toys to get familiar with the process to be able to teach effectively. Then we started cutting up more fabric into strips and grouping them as needed to make one pet toy. By pre-processing those fabric, we can efficiently teach our special needs friends how to make the pet toys without worrying about the potential safety concerns with using scissors.
This was a very insightful event. The pet toys made during the training event will be donated to Plano animal shelter. We enjoyed learning a new skill and the beautiful weather. We are also looking forward to seeing the excitedness from our special needs friends after they make something to gift to their pet friends and/or donate to the animal shelter.
Volunteers:
Karen Zhou (event leader): 3 hours
Karen Li (event leader): 3 hours
Ellie Zhou: 2 hours
Bryan Zheng: 2 hours
Summer Shi: 2 hours
Jiahe (Joy) Tian: 2 hours
Kathleen Jiang: 2 hours
Li Wan (Supervising parent): 3 hours
