sewing machines for hurricane evacuees

It is *so* good to see a newsgroup being so collectively sane
about the disaster. (I sporadically read and post to rctq, have
occasionally lurked on rcts).

OK, an idea. (I really don't like making suggestions I am in
absolutely no position to do myself, but this one seems not
to have been made yet). If your sewing machine has been sunk
a few feet down in warm sewage for a week it's probably not
going to be usable for much again, assuming you ever find it.
And for many poor women in NOLA, their sewing machine must
have been an essential source of income. Maybe it would be
an idea for people to start assembling sewing machines, other
sewing equipment, and starter packs of consumables for the
refugees to use once they have somewhere to set up as a sewing
space? This could be done anywhere in the US they end up; it
makes more sense for the gear not to be shipped long distances.
There's a charity here that collects sewing machines for use
in the Third World; it would make sense to support the Katrina
refugees in the same way, but people in the US will be better
placed to distribute them. A first step would be to identify
recipients who could use them.

I imagine there will have been a lot of home-piecework - ghastly
exploitative labour, but a lot better than the concentration camps
FEMA is offering, and it's easy to set up a business like that
anywhere. Distribute an appropriate mix of machine types in each
destination and it could make a big difference to collective self-
reliance. Some people will have used straight-stitch machines,
others sergers, and so on, it'll help if they get what they're
used to.

(I've focused on work-related use, but surely there are enough
spare machines in America to help refugees who used to sew for fun,
too - and god knows they're not getting much fun from anything
else at the moment).

============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk ==============
Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660 4760
http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/ for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554 975
stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739 557

wow! what a wonderful idea. I wonder if letters and phone calls to our well
supported local dealers would consider sending some of those reconditioned
machines they have as well, along with basic supplies. Not only may these
machine possibly be used for income but mending and altering gifted clothing
as well.

Just a thought,
Val
"Jack Campin - bogus address" wrote in message
...
It is *so* good to see a newsgroup being so collectively sane
about the disaster. (I sporadically read and post to rctq, have
occasionally lurked on rcts).

OK, an idea. (I really don't like making suggestions I am in
absolutely no position to do myself, but this one seems not
to have been made yet). If your sewing machine has been sunk
a few feet down in warm sewage for a week it's probably not
going to be usable for much again, assuming you ever find it.
And for many poor women in NOLA, their sewing machine must
have been an essential source of income. Maybe it would be
an idea for people to start assembling sewing machines, other
sewing equipment, and starter packs of consumables for the
refugees to use once they have somewhere to set up as a sewing
space? This could be done anywhere in the US they end up; it
makes more sense for the gear not to be shipped long distances.
There's a charity here that collects sewing machines for use
in the Third World; it would make sense to support the Katrina
refugees in the same way, but people in the US will be better
placed to distribute them. A first step would be to identify
recipients who could use them.

I imagine there will have been a lot of home-piecework - ghastly
exploitative labour, but a lot better than the concentration camps
FEMA is offering, and it's easy to set up a business like that
anywhere. Distribute an appropriate mix of machine types in each
destination and it could make a big difference to collective self-
reliance. Some people will have used straight-stitch machines,
others sergers, and so on, it'll help if they get what they're
used to.

(I've focused on work-related use, but surely there are enough
spare machines in America to help refugees who used to sew for fun,
too - and god knows they're not getting much fun from anything
else at the moment).

============== j-c ====== @ ====== purr . demon . co . uk
==============
Jack Campin: 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland | tel 0131 660
4760
http://www.purr.demon.co.uk/jack/ for CD-ROMs and free | fax 0870 0554
975
stuff: Scottish music, food intolerance, & Mac logic fonts | mob 07800 739
557

space? This could be done anywhere in the US they end up; it
makes more sense for the gear not to be shipped long distances.

Hi, Jack! (we met back in rec pets cats days) There are some efforts
starting that way already, if I correctly understand the posts in the
yahoogroups "wefixit". There doesn't seem to be quite the
organization for distribution yet, but I suspect the machines will
find new homes readily.

I imagine there will have been a lot of home-piecework - ghastly

Actually, that's against the law here -- you can work for yourself
at home, but the exceptions allowing you to hire someone else to sew
at home are pretty minimal.

Please don't take this as being contrary or unappreciative -- it's a
great idea!

Kay Lancaster

"Kay Lancaster" wrote in message
...
space? This could be done anywhere in the US they end up; it
makes more sense for the gear not to be shipped long distances.

Hi, Jack! (we met back in rec pets cats days) There are some efforts
starting that way already, if I correctly understand the posts in the
yahoogroups "wefixit". There doesn't seem to be quite the
organization for distribution yet, but I suspect the machines will
find new homes readily.

I imagine there will have been a lot of home-piecework - ghastly

Actually, that's against the law here -- you can work for yourself
at home, but the exceptions allowing you to hire someone else to sew
at home are pretty minimal.

Please don't take this as being contrary or unappreciative -- it's a
great idea!

Kay Lancaster



This is a good idea and I would be willing to participate. I know I have
duplicates of a lot of things, especially thread. I always seem to forgot
what I have in stock and buy more. I also have an old, but perfectly good,
sewing machine that I could send to someone. It has been sitting in a
closet since it was replaced with a new machine. I have the feet that came
with it and the instruction book. I'd rather pay the shipping charges to
make sure it finds a good home then just dump it at a used sewing machine
store. In addition to the machines and notions, I have plenty of cotton
fabrics in my stash that are suitable for little girls clothing. It
wouldn't be any trouble to put the fabric in a box with the machine. Maybe
the American Sewing Guild would be setting up something like this. Any
members here that could provide advise?

Liz

In another thread, Ward wrote:
I also have an old, but
perfectly good, sewing machine that I could send to someone. It has
been sitting in a closet since it was replaced with a new machine. I
have the feet that came with it and the instruction book. I'd rather
pay the shipping charges to make sure it finds a good home then just
dump it at a used sewing machine store.

I understand the current wish to help out the victims of Katrina, so this is
for the futu you can list unwanted items on Freecycle and someone local
will want them. It's amazing what you can find a home for - one person's
junk is another's treasure.

It's a Yahoo group. You may be able to find your local one through the yahoo
groups page, or you could Google for
*freecycle [your city]*

What goes around, comes around...

Sally

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 06:24:17 GMT, "Sally Holmes"
wrote:

I understand the current wish to help out the victims of Katrina, so this is
for the futu you can list unwanted items on Freecycle and someone local
will want them. It's amazing what you can find a home for - one person's
junk is another's treasure.

It's a Yahoo group. You may be able to find your local one through the yahoo
groups page, or you could Google for
*freecycle [your city]*

What goes around, comes around...

Sally


I'll put in another plug for Freecycle. It's such a wonderful way to
get rid of your unwanted stuff -- stuff that still has life to it, but
you don't need/want it anymore.

To find a group in your area, go to the national site:

www.freecycle.org

and search by zip code.

--Welmoed

Sally Holmes wrote:

I understand the current wish to help out the victims of Katrina, so this is
for the futu you can list unwanted items on Freecycle and someone local
will want them. It's amazing what you can find a home for - one person's
junk is another's treasure.

I have been on several Freecycle lists, and I guess in my area they seem
to be populated with cyberbeggars. Personally I think Freecycle lists
should not allow people to ask for things, and I think it's ridiculous
for someone to ask for something for free and give exact specifications
as though they were ordering from a cabinet -- someone actually asked
for something like "a cherry bedroom set" or some expensive wood and
gave exact specifics as to what they want.

Melinda, who prefers to give away things through Craigslist.com because
she doesn't have to look at the cyberbeggars and their posts get removed
pretty quickly anyway

I have been on several Freecycle lists, and I guess in my area they seem
to be populated with cyberbeggars. Personally I think Freecycle lists
should not allow people to ask for things, and I think it's ridiculous

I'm on a couple of different freecycle lists -- at least in this area,
"asking" is limited to one post a month per person. Mostly what I see
are requests for such items as wheelchairs, kid's goods from foster
families, craft supplies for kids groups, etc. I have seen the occasional
request for sewing machines, too.

Kay Lancaster wrote:

I'm on a couple of different freecycle lists -- at least in this area,
"asking" is limited to one post a month per person. Mostly what I see


Well, that sounds reasonable, but I'll tell ya, I unsubbed from all 3
lists I was on because the cyberbeggars seemed to dominate the list.

"Melinda Meahan - take out TRASH to reply" wrote in
message ...
Kay Lancaster wrote:

I'm on a couple of different freecycle lists -- at least in this area,
"asking" is limited to one post a month per person. Mostly what I see


Well, that sounds reasonable, but I'll tell ya, I unsubbed from all 3
lists I was on because the cyberbeggars seemed to dominate the list.

I just put things on ebay with a $0.01 starting price. So far only one has
actually sold at that price, but some of them still go very cheap!

Liz