Sewing mends the soul

You never think that your life will change with a single interaction. You read about other people having it happen to them, but never in your wildest dreams do you think it will happen to you.

It all started with a zipper. I volunteered at a work event to do sewing and mending in April of 2017. The event was part of our Earth Week events and was held at Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul, MN. Over the course of four hours I and other volunteers mended clothes for people from the surrounding businesses and residents of Union Gospel Mission.

Then a man came up to the table. His name was Jim and he approached the table with two items. A bathrobe and a jacket with a shredded zipper. I told him I could easily fix the bathrobe, but the jacket would take longer. For one, I didn't have a zipper with me and second, I couldn't repair it in the time remaining. However, I told him, I'd be happy to take it home with me, fix it, and return it in a couple of weeks. Jim looked at me and said, you'd do that for me? I said sure, it wasn't a problem. Jim wrote his name and number down and tucked it one of the jacket pockets. Before he walked away from the table he said again, you'd really do that for me? Fix the zipper and bring the jacket back? Then it hit me. To me it was a $3 zipper and an hour of my time. To Jim, it was $3 and maybe his only $3 until his next paycheck or having bus fare to get to his job.

Two weeks had gone by and I replaced the zipper in Jim's jacket. I called him and we met in the parking lot where I work. I told him that I replaced the zipper, but it wasn't perfect, but it zipped. He started to tear up and he told me that the jacket had never zippered since he owned it, as it was donated. He asked if he could give me a hug and I said yes. Then Jim proceeded to tell me that tonight was his first sober league softball game and he could finally wear his favorite jacket. He thanked me again, turned and walked away.

That interaction in the parking lot with Jim was the point where I knew my life would never be the same again. Something as simple as a zipper to me was in turn so huge to Jim. I knew that there were more people out there that had clothes that needed mending and it was a huge obstacle to them.

On 8/4/2017 Mobile Menders had 17 volunteers and as of 1/12/2018 we are at 153 volunteers. We started providing free mending services to two organizations and we are now helping over 14.

My idea of helping out a few places with mending and sewing has overnight, blossomed into something that can have the potential to help hundreds, if not eventually thousands of people in need around the Twin Cites area.

Mobile Menders is an all volunteer group of sewers and menders. We are dedicated to providing free mending services to those in need in and around the Twin Cities. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to have clothes that fit and are in good shape.

We all have the power to help others and it can be something as simple as replacing a button on someone's favorite shirt.

To learn more about Mobile Menders or to volunteer go to their website: www.mobilemendersewing.weebly.com