New program creates pathway for unhoused community members to develop job skills through waste reduction

By Daniel Hiestand

Lane County Waste Reduction Outreach Coordinator

Every so often (though not often enough), the stars align where business interests align perfectly with environmental sustainability.

Such is the case concerning a new partnership between the city of Eugene, the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, and the Viking Textile Maker Hub (VTMH) to address unemployment while reducing textile waste.

The Re-Patch Program helps empower folks transitioning from homelessness with industrial sewing skills while giving surplus city-owned clothing—such as jackets, coats, and windbreakers—a second life. These refurbished items are distributed to local shelters and the City’s Community Court program, providing durable clothing for vulnerable community members.

Scan the QR code below to watch Lane County Master Recycler Kelly Bell’s video to learn more. I sat down briefly with Mitra Gruwell, board president at Viking Textile Maker Hub. Gruwell spearheaded the project with the city of Eugene Waste Prevention Analyst Donny Addison.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Re-Patch?

“Viking Textile Maker Hub’s primary program is teaching folks that are unhoused and stabilized at shelters industrial sewing skills. We have been operating this program for a year and have 22 out of 27 enrollees graduating. We're giving work opportunities to our graduates, and then we're giving back refurbished winter wear to that population.”

Q: What training do Re-Patch enrollees receive?

“Instruction is a total of 24 hours training for each of the individuals, and they are provided a stipend for taking the training. They learn to use an industrial walking foot machine and industrial serger… they are taught how to use them safely, operate them correctly, and make upcycled projects along the way.”

Q: Is this work difficult?

“Upcycling is very time-consuming, and that's oftentimes why it's very expensive to do. But we're trying to create a systematic way to handle this type of material, because there are a lot of organizations that produce this kind of waste, and it's kind of this thing that's not easily disposed of, because they've invested a lot of money into these items to get them branded. And then they sit on them, because you can't donate them, (to avoid someone getting ahold of items and misrepresenting themselves as an official member of that agency or organization). They can't recycle them because they are branded. So we are finding a way to create value for those organizations that have this stuff by eliminating their waste costs by giving them a way to upcycle and do something positive and sustainable with their stuff.”

Q: Anything else you want to add?

“The program has been supported by Lane Workforce Partnership, the Lane Council of Governments, the city of Eugene and Lane County in various ways, while the Chamber of Commerce has been finding funding for us for the last couple years. It makes me happy to see people thinking collaboratively in this direction.”

Do you know of organizations that want to give their branded textiles a second life? Reach out to Donny Addison at the city of Eugene at [email protected] to learn more.

Waste Wise Tip: Re-Patch Program

Kelly Bell, Lane County Master Recycler Program Coordinator, elaborates on the Re-Patch Program. Scan the code to watch a short video and subscribe to Waste Wise Lane County’s Instagram channel for Kelly’s monthly tips at www.instagram.com/wastewiselanecounty.

Waste Wise Lane County, a part of the Lane County Waste Management Division, seeks to empower residents, businesses, and schools with resources to reduce waste and live sustainably.