Potter County 4-Hers send the Panhandle Spirit overseas

Amarillo, Texas — Stitched with care and made with love for a special delivery overseas. A group of Potter County 4-Hers is taking the Panhandle Spirit international.

It is a pattern this 4-H sewing group will repeat. A group of 10 students cut, ironed, pinned and sewed various sized pouches to send to Australia.

"There are huge fires everywhere and it's killing all the animals,” said Gabrielle Rosas who is in the sewing class. “It's really crazy so right now so we're trying to help as best we can."

"When the firefighters or first-responders find them, they can keep them in a sac and just put them in there,” said Garrison Rosas, another sewer.

"These kolas really don't care how the seam is,” said Rachel Berry, who is teaching the sewing class.

Berry begins each new 4-H sewing course with a community service project. This one she found on Facebook as part of the Relief Crafters of America group. The project was perfect for beginners for one reason:

"It's a very simple stitch to make these pouches for a lot of new sewers in our club,” said Berry.

"First, you make the outside one and you fit a flannel one on the inside,” said Garrison. “This will keep it warm."

"If they happen to soil it, you can pull this one out and put in a new inner and the same outer,” said Berry to the group. “That make sense?"

The pouches range in size.

"Extra small are for bats and little possums and the extra-large are for the big joeys,” said Berry. “When they find an animal of a certain size, they put it in the correct size pouch where those animals can be taken to different rescue homes."

"It's the greatest feeling, really, just knowing these animals are going to get help and be OK,” said Gabrielle.

There were several incorrect stitches removed and re-sewn with love to make the most comfortable portable homes for Australian animals needing relocation.