Mending Souls

The global mission of the Charity Factory and Free Academy is to teach how to manufacture (with online videos and local library) and to donate over 50 zero-waste clothing, medical, and educational items while creating a two-way benefit structure of Givers, who create a family, while bringing comfort and employment opportunities to the chronically ill and financially disadvantaged in our communities: including over 146 schools, hospitals, fire/police departments, nursing homes, Veterans homes, homeless/DV shelters, and animal rescues. The teachers and volunteers are all ages, all backgrounds - many shut ins and widow(er)s have found fun, heart-warming hugs at the Charity Factory and school of the Mending Souls Family.

Going on 9 years, Mending Souls has hand made and donated over 250,000 handmade medical, educational and clothing items in 50 designs for all ages and disabilities. The job training Free Academy teaches sewing, knit/crochet, embroidery, cardmaking, cutting patterns and kit-making for curbside service where over 1,100 volunteers in Tucson pick up and drop off their handmade treasures. Our 22 Team Captains lead their volunteers in design, delivery, sewing, inventory/quality control, fundraising and more. In-house classes are a special gathering place to give community and a purpose while manufacturing: teddy bears, PPE, blankets, wheelchair/walker totes, bibs/burp cloths, chemotherapy caps, Dignity Curtains over body fluid containers, activity mats for dementia and developmental needs, Dignity Scoop bandanas for excessive drool, and over 40 more items. The zero-waste designs are free, available online, can use upcycled materials, and are co-created with end-users: doctors, teachers and medical staff.

Testimonials

"Your Veterans shawl to honor my [Vietnam] service means so much to me -thank you." - Daniel King, while at The Vietnam Memorial in D.C.

"Your Mommy Hearts were given to me so my premie could still sense [smell] me with her - it was very painful weeks in the hospital and scary - but she's now healthy and I want to give back any way I can so others can receive Mending Souls items like we needed right then." Melissa P.

"I love sewing!" - Priamos, age 5, during classes of sewing, card-making and 3D Printing.

"When I had my hair, breasts and ovaries removed, your chemo caps and headbands helped more than you know - they told others and myself that that I was still a woman..." - Leslie, Cancer patient.

"You have no idea what it means to the nurses and families to have your Bereavement Totes and Teddies so we don't have to give them their items in a plastic hospital bag when doing these Honor Walks [escorting family member to organ harvesting room]" - Billy G., Hospital Procurement.

"Thank you for my pretty curtain that covers my Foley [urine] bag at the dinner table!"-R.D., In-home patient.

"I had no idea how much I could be paid to do upholstery!" - Melanie, during local retail store tour.