Fellowship Hall

New home for Burlington’s Sew on Fire

It’s like Santa’s workshop only instead of elves, this workshop is filled with volunteers sewing and assembling gift bags for those in need across the globe.

Sew on Fire Ministries, a non-profit organization that sends gift-filled bags to orphans, widows, single moms and the homeless, has opened its first warehouse in Burlington where volunteers are able to dedicate their time to sewing, assembling and shipping out the bags.

So far, more than 125,000 gift bags have been shipped to 80 different countries.

The bags are hand-sewn by volunteers and then filled with a variety of items from hand-knitted blankets and mitts to toys and school supplies. Each bag’s contents are customized according to age, gender and needs in the specific country.

“People’s faces light up when they get a gift,” said Wendy Hagar, founder of Sew on Fire Ministries. “They see a blanket that took hours to make and know someone cares.”

Most recently Wendy has shipped bags to the homeless in Toronto, children in Uganda, youths in a nearby detention centre, and refugees who recently arrived in Hamilton.

The idea to create gift bags all started in the Hagar’s home. In 2000, Wendy set a goal to clothe and send gift bags filled with toys, toiletries and school supplies to 100 orphans in Kyrgyzstan. Her efforts inspired others and instead of 100, she ended up sending more than 1,700.

Wendy Hagar with a display of the many items that are prduced or packaged at Sew on Fire’s new location.

Now Wendy has a permanent home for her charitable factory where volunteers will be able to offer their time sewing bags and working the assembly line. The new Sew on Fire warehouse is located at Unit 4, 975 Fraser Dr., Burlington, just southeast of Walkers Line and the QEW.

More than 100 volunteer groups from across Canada have already shown their support by sending hand-knitted items or donating toys and school supplies. She has also found support from several companies that have donated items such as toothpaste, candy and shoes to include in the bags.

“Over 700 volunteer hours a month are put into making these bags,” said Wendy. “Kids, seniors, men and women, youth groups and church groups all come to help fill bags. Some have lost husbands or jobs and doing good for others has really helped them, in some cases even changing their lives.”

Church groups and individuals interested in volunteering or collecting goods for distribution through Sew on Fire are asked to contact Wendy at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.sewonfire.com .

By Deirdre Healey