Late last year we told you about one of the Police Department's most unique community outreach programs, teaching single and stay-at-home mothers how to sew. The project is spearheaded by Deputy ComPol Robert Mariano, who has been sewing all his life. Today we went to a graduation ceremony for the project's newest set of seamstresses and spoke to Mariano, as well as a former student turned teacher, about the program's success...
Robert Mariano, Deputy ComPol
"It started just over a year ago whilst I was officer commanding eastern division. We realize that there is a lot of people within our communities that are unemployed and I have the skills of sewing and so I decide to share it with some of the members of our communities who doesn't have any talent at all and hopefully they can use it to make a livelihood for their selves and their families. You can see that the program is very successful and today I can say that the first set that graduated last year are now making clothes for the police department."
Adeline Enriquez, Sewing Instructor
"I saw the need for this venture in this region, because we have a lot of women who didn't have any jobs, stay home moms and this was something that came in quite well for income generating projects for them to assist them. I think it helps because it allows the women to be able to prepare clothing, especially around this time coming school year they can help in sewing uniforms, and different items for the students. This helps them at home, likewise help others throughout the community."
Mariano expects to personally teach one more group of students how to sew before he retires.
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