I'm coming up on my one year "anniversary" as a volunteer at SewGreen. SewGreen was founded in 2007 as a way to save unwanted fabric, yarn and sewing equipment from going to the landfill, and to teach sewing as a self reliant skill. The original mission has grown to include youth development, job training and consumer education. A related sister SewGreen recently opened in Rochester, NY and is off to a great start revitalizing the neighborhood where it is located.
I volunteer at SewGreen weekly, every Thursday. I work in the retail area of the store primarily assisting customers and preparing fabric for the sales floor. My love of sewing brought me to SewGreen but I have developed a new appreciation for other crafters including knitters, weavers and felters.
Every week is an adventure as the store is constantly changing based on the inventory that gets donated. Yes, donated...EVERYTHING in the SewGreen store has been donated. It is the ultimate in reuse and this looks like no reuse store you've been to before. The store is GORGEOUS thanks to amazing staff members Ron and Katie (and the ever watchful and design oriented eye of Wendy, volunteer director since day 1).
SewGreen is located in downtown Ithaca, NY where rents are high and winters are gray. We rely on foot traffic but there is often very little to go around in the bleak months of January through March. SewGreen has looked toward creative ways to increase revenue and we proudly participate in the Green Eileen program that offers gently worn Eileen Fisher clothing for sale at a dramatic discount and donates a portion of the proceeds back into organizations that improve the lives of women and girls. We have a big sale coming up starting February 10th...if you are local, be sure to check it out.
Happy sewing and crafting - buy used materials if you can find them for your next project.
I volunteer at SewGreen weekly, every Thursday. I work in the retail area of the store primarily assisting customers and preparing fabric for the sales floor. My love of sewing brought me to SewGreen but I have developed a new appreciation for other crafters including knitters, weavers and felters.
Every week is an adventure as the store is constantly changing based on the inventory that gets donated. Yes, donated...EVERYTHING in the SewGreen store has been donated. It is the ultimate in reuse and this looks like no reuse store you've been to before. The store is GORGEOUS thanks to amazing staff members Ron and Katie (and the ever watchful and design oriented eye of Wendy, volunteer director since day 1).
SewGreen is located in downtown Ithaca, NY where rents are high and winters are gray. We rely on foot traffic but there is often very little to go around in the bleak months of January through March. SewGreen has looked toward creative ways to increase revenue and we proudly participate in the Green Eileen program that offers gently worn Eileen Fisher clothing for sale at a dramatic discount and donates a portion of the proceeds back into organizations that improve the lives of women and girls. We have a big sale coming up starting February 10th...if you are local, be sure to check it out.
Happy sewing and crafting - buy used materials if you can find them for your next project.