. >> reporter: even with the red hat, michelle zieler is tough to keep track of. she started "sew for love" in san jose 17 years ago. first teaching girl scouts how to sew using leftover and recycled fabric. >> but then it ended up they dropped it. and i said, i can't not let this go, it has to be a service forever. >> reporter: community service because "sew for love" uses donated fabric and supplies to hand-make thousands of items that are given out free of charge to more than 30 hecharities in 7 bay area counties. and monthly events and this once a year weekend sew-a-thon, volunteers create blankets, hats, bags, stuffed animals, and a 6-sided chair michelle calls a "cubie." >> because nothing goes to waste, all the scraps get collected and the kids stuff the cubies and they get donated. >> reporter: receiving charities include women's groups, animal shelters and first responders. michelle remembers a time a police officer called her. >> this little animal we had donated actually calmed a little girl down on the freeway after an accident. >> this is perfect. >>

. >> reporter: even with the red hat, michelle zieler is tough to keep track of.tarted "sew for love" in san jose 17 years ago. first teaching girl scouts how to sew using leftover and recycled fabric. >> but then it ended up they dropped it. and i said, i can't not let this go, it has to be a service forever. >> reporter: community service because "sew for love" uses donated fabric and supplies to hand-make thousands of items that are given out free of charge to more than 30 charities in 7 bay area counties. and monthly events and this once a year weekend sew-a-thon, volunteers create blankets, hats, bags, stuffed animals, and a 6-sided chair michelle calls a "cubie." >> because nothing goes to waste, all the scraps get collected and the kids stun the kubis buys and they get donated. >> reporter: receiving charities include women's groups, animal shelters and first responders. michelle remembers a time a police officer called her. >> this little animal we had donated actually calmed a little girl down on the freeway after an accident. >> this is perfect. >> repor