We Need Local Sewing Machine Refurbishment Volunteers!

December 20, 2024 Newsletter

At Midwest Mission, we believe in the benefit of sending sustainable items that will bring continued blessings for years to come. Sewing Machines are great examples of this — they can completely change the life of the recipient, giving them consistent income and purpose in their life. 

We witnessed this first-hand in Jamaica while visiting recipients of Midwest Mission gifts. At a prison, they teach inmates to sew in their tailor shop, and present them with a sewing machine at the end of their sentence, so they have a way to jump-start their career. This puts them on a path different from the one that got them to prison.

In Honduras we heard story after story of women whose lives were changed by the gift of a sewing machine. You can read Maria’s inspiring story here.

The stories are endless, and the impact is life-long. 

At Midwest Mission, we refurbish sewing machines and send them out to people around the world, as a hand-up in life. You have heard our request for sewing machines and answered!

Unfortunately, now we have more machines than the people needed to work on them.

We are looking for more Sewing Machine Shop volunteers local to either Pawnee, IL or Jefferson, IA. You don’t even need to know how to fix machines! We really need people who know how to sew, and can test the machines so we know which ones need fixed, and which ones just need cleaned up. Or, people who are willing to learn.

If you’re interested in volunteering in Illinois, email Barb Hedinger at  barb@midwestmission.org.

If you’re interested in volunteering in Iowa, email Alaire Willits at  alaire@midwestmission.org.

Illinois Sewing Machine Shop Training

For those interested in being regular volunteers in the Sewing Machine Shop in Illinois, we are hosting two Sewing Machine Shop Training Days. You’ll learn the basics of testing and cleaning sewing machines, and troubleshooting what to do if it doesn’t work. 

The trainings will be from 8:30am-2:30pm on:

• Monday, January 13

• Monday, January 20

Lunch will be provided.

If you’re interested in joining us for training in Illinois, RSVP here. Space is limited, so be sure to register soon!