Friends help Sun City West club fulfill its goals

Just as The Beatles sang, the Rip ’N’ Sew Club gets by with a little help from its friends. They are married to club members.

Four husbands are in the Sun City West club frequently enough that most members know them. They are Charlie Smith, Bob Hardy, Joel Piaskowski and Gary Reynolds.

“I enjoy helping others. It gives me a good feeling,” said Smith.

Wife Marsha is co-leader of Sewing from the Heart, a special interest group within the club. Charlie drives her to and from the club almost daily. Charlie, Marsha and April Sliva, a club member, made and attached new covers last year to 12 of the club’s chairs.

Bob Hardy, Joan’s husband, earned his living as an electrician. He did Rip ‘N’ Sew’s electrical work until the Recreation Centers of Sun City West stopped it due to liability concerns.

He found other ways to help.

“I help move stuff around all the time,” he said.

When the club has its sewing machines serviced, members also can bring in their home machines. Hardy helps carry members’ machines back to their cars.

Joan Hardy is a past president of Rip ‘N’ Sew and serves on many club committees.

Club members know Joel Piaskowski because he often feeds them. His wife, Jolene, signs up to bring food for club events, but she doesn’t cook.

“I do all the cooking,” said Joel. He sometimes delivers the food, too.

Jolene Piaskowski is on Rip ‘N’ Sew’s hospitality committee and on the Recreation Centers Board.

Gary Reynolds enjoys the club: “It’s fun to share things with Rip ‘N’ Sew (members). They want to learn.”

Reynolds helped wife Robyn by designing fliers class sign-up sheets when she served on the club’s board. He also created a video tour of Rip ‘N’ Sew, which can be viewed at ripsew.scwclubs.com/about-location.