Sewing With Nancy

During the past four years, we've followed the progress of an amazing non-profit organization whose byline is "To mend communities one sewing machine at a time." From donating machines to now teaching and paying it forward it continues to expand. Please welcome Margaret Jankowski the founder of the Sewing Machine Project. Margaret, it's great to have you back. When I heard about your new initiative of incorporating sewing classes and paying it forward I knew we had to tell our viewers about this. Thank you for having me back, Nancy. I really appreciate it. We're really, really excited about this new program. It began here, in Madison, Wisconsin where we teach local classes. We teach people to sew, then incorporated in those lessons is a pay-it-forward element where they make something for their own community. After their lessons are complete then they keep the machine that they learned on. We've been working with many different populations here in Madison. It's been so successful that we decided to offer it nationally. Now you've expanded to many different states. We have classes going in Mississippi Alabama, Louisiana, and more applications are rolling in all the time. You were telling me that you work with a community center. In the community center you've had, as you said many different populations. But then, I think it's interesting it's six classes for the session but then they pay it forward by making something that is needed in the community. Absolutely as a class, we actually ask the community center what their needs are. So for instance, one of the centers where we work has a really active food pantry program. In the wintertime, there are many homeless clients so the class made fleece hats for those clients to keep them warm in the winter. You've also made baby blankets and tote bags. Absolutely. So they work on this machine they get to know it, and then they use it. Absolutely. You know, one of the other interesting ways that we've asked people to pay it forward we've worked with Bhutanese immigrants here in Madison, and we didn't know their language. We needed an interpreter. We had them pay it forward by coming back and acting as mentors in other classes. That was their way of helping out and helping us with the translation. The Sewing Machine Project obviously started by having many sewing machines donated. You have them repaired. But you said, right now you're machine rich. We are pretty machine rich. Yeah, we have a lot of machines. Although, as we are sending them out to these different groups around the country, that's helping us, you know keep the flow of machines going. But there are a lot of other things that we need, too. And they are? Well, one of the top things would be we need funding resources coming in, of course as many non-profits do. Yes, of course. We also need notions, things that people would use in sewing kits, pins, and scissors, and rulers and that sort of thing, basic sewing needs. Basics, to get them going. I think one of the statements that you said to me when we had a little pre-interview is that you stated, "Everyone has the power and the responsibility to mend their community." I think that's very poignant. Thank you. No matter of your economic status, you can pay it forward you can help mend the community by sewing. Mm-hmm. You've certainly done that with your communities in teaching them. What is the most gratifying part about this for you? Because you volunteer. I do. Oh, there are so many levels of gratification. One of the things that really has struck me is that when I began this I thought it was really just about us giving sewing machines to someone else. But what I've learned is that it really serves everyone who touches this project whether it's volunteers or donors. Everybody feels the power of this project. A used sewing machine that's been given a tune-up has so much life to it. Absolutely, it gives people a tool and the means to not only, you know, save money and help their family but also to potentially make some money to support their family. A lot of self-worth comes from the ability to sew and quilt, and use your hands and create something. Good job, Margaret, from donating machines at hurricane areas in Katrina and also Kosovo now, to paying it forward, teaching. I congratulate you and your co-workers. Thank you so much. Thank you for inviting me back. You're welcome. If you'd like to have more information about the Sewing Machine Project you can go to all things Sewing with Nancy at nancyzieman.com where you can watch 52 of the most recent shows re-watch my interview with Margaret or the program I just did with Denise. Most of all, click on Nancy's Corner then you can get a link to the Sewing Machine Project website and find out more information. Do go there, watch the show, rewatch it. Also, contribute and be part of the Nancy's Corner organizations. Thanks for joining us today. Bye for now.