This is another great story for me that really hits home (literally!) - it's from Saturday's local paper (Monona is Madison's neighbor). I love reading about people like Margaret who spend their hours helping the needy in creative and unique ways.Monona's Margaret Jankowski met a woman on a recent trip to New Orleans who lost her sewing machine to Hurricane Katrina. It was a loss that went beyond material matters.> Read the rest of the article at Wisconsin State Journal (it's worth a full read - inspiring!)
The woman, whose first name was Marilyn, told Jankowski how as a young black girl she was barred from trying on clothes in stores in New Orleans. So she and her sister would sketch the clothes from afar and take the sketches to their grandmother who would use them to make patterns. Her grandmother, in fact, sewed clothes for all of the family's 12 children. It was a kind of self-sufficiency that Marilyn continued for decades until the hurricane washed away her possessions, including her sewing machine.
She went without a sewing machine until Jankoski brought approximately 500 refurbished machines she helped collect to New Orleans.
Jankowski, who has organized similar missions to Sri Lanka, New Orleans and Kosovo, founded the Sewing Machine Project in 2005. The project sends used sewing machines to communities in need. Some replace those that individuals used to make clothes for themselves or their families. Others replace those lost by businesses, schools or community groups. Community centers and hospitals have also been recipients.
Contributors all across the United States have responded to Jankowski's project. Her call for sewing machines has brought used ones to drop-off sites all around the United States and sometimes, via UPS, to her front porch.
It's a kind of giving that people really respond to these days for many reasons, said Joan Gillman, director of special industry programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Business School and co-host of "In Business with Jody and Joan" on WTDY radio. "In this day and age, we're trying to be green, responsible and help people. This is a way to do it."
It's also the kind of charitable work that has gained favor because it provides the means for families and would-be entrepreneurs to help themselves.
"She's giving them the tools," Gillman said.
People helping people...help themselves. Thanks Margaret for all you do!
For more information and to find out how you can help visit thesewingmachineproject.org.
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Hi
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great story...and something she should be so proud of. Margaret probably has made a huge difference in peoples lives. Probably a bigger difference that she can imagine.
Go Margaret!
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action