Region Managers

Leslie Unruh was the first volunteer to raise her hand to help Sew Powerful back in 2016. She has since worked on pattern design, Quilt Shows, sew days, merch development, and more. Most recently Leslie served as the Washington Regional Coordinator. Prior to retirement, Leslie had a long career with Boeing as a rocket scientist. Leslie resides in the Seattle area where she is an avid quilter, Lego enthusiast, and a blue-ribbon-awarded doll clothes maker.

Leslie@sewpowerful.org

Christe Harwood is a retired health care worker, mother, and grandmother, who has sewn from an early age. Helping others is a theme in her life. Chris previously served Sew Powerful as the Iowa Regional Coordinator where she organized local purse-making events. Chris is an enthusiastic Sew Powerful purse maker and advocate because she understands the difference a purse makes in the life of a girl in Zambia.

ChrisH@sewpowerful.org

Before assuming her current position, Sharon Helms served as the Sew Powerful Illinois Regional Coordinator. Now retired, Sharon’s professional career included financial and secretarial duties at a technology manufacturing company, banks, and a brokerage firm. Sharon and her husband, Jerry, have served churches in different ministry positions for over fifty years. She has had a passion for sewing and feels it is an honor and privilege to be part of Sew Powerful.

SharonH@sewpowerful.org

Paula Mangum made her first 50 Sew Powerful purses in 2014. She enjoys heirloom sewing and making doll clothes, but her current purse-a-day goal shows her true passion is for Sew Powerful, knowing each purse changes a life. Paula was the founder of a Sew Powerful Chapter in Alabama. She now actively participates in her local chapter in her new Texas hometown. Paula holds a master’s degree in Instructional Design and works as the financial secretary for the Palo Pinto County Baptist Association.

paulam@sewpowerful.org

Kathleen Broadfoot is an experienced Sew Powerful purse maker who joins the team directly from her role as the Indiana Regional Coordinator. Kathleen learned sewing from her mother, aunts, and grandmothers. She enjoys traveling with her husband, but favorite short trips are visiting their children and grandchildren. Kathleen feels blessed to be sewing purses for Sew Powerful and thanks God for the opportunity to use her talents to benefit others.

KathleenB@sewpowerful.org

Jennifer Everett learned about Sew Powerful during COVID and began praying for the girls and seamstresses of Zambia then immediately started making purses. Jenn traveled to Zambia with Sew Powerful in September 2022. It truly changed her life. She is a life-long sewer and quilter and loves working with fabric. Jenn is employed in healthcare as a certified medical coder. She is active in her quilt guild, church and veteran projects.

jenne@sewpowerful.org

Sarah Glenn's love of sewing began in childhood, stitching clothes for her dolls by hand. Today, Sarah transforms fabric into garments, quilts, home furnishings, and, of course, Sew Powerful purses. As a fiber arts enthusiast, she also spins, weaves, and knits. Since discovering Sew Powerful in 2018, she's embraced retirement as an opportunity to pour her skills into this meaningful mission. Now serving as Regional Manager, Sarah encourages others to join the Sew Powerful mission to make a real difference.

sarahg@sewpowerful.org

Besides being the Region Manager for all locations outside the United States, Jan Cancila serves as the Sew Powerful Chief Marketing Officer. At age 6, Jan received a hand-crank sewing machine, and she has been stitching ever since. Of course, now she enjoys making Sew Powerful purses with a more modern machine. Jan finds volunteering for Sew Powerful personally rewarding and loves knowing her efforts directly benefit those we serve in Zambia.

JanC@sewpowerful.org