WEEKEND WORKSHOPS

Midwest Mission has launched Weekend Workshops — dedicated time for volunteers to use their specific skills to help with tasks such as bike repair, sewing machine repair, sewing, and more! These hands-on workshops will be led by volunteer shop leaders who will guide participants through the different tasks. Why? Midwest Mission receives more items than our local key volunteers can repair! These workshops will ensure more items will be available to send out, and we hope more people might be interested in becoming local key volunteers (volunteers who regularly come to Midwest Mission and volunteer in a specific area).

Upcoming Workshops

FEBRUARY

Sewing Machine Repair

Spend Valentine's Day serving! Sewing Machine Repair Day is a focused workday where we inspect, test, and repair donated sewing machines to make sure they are safe, functional, and ready for use.

Verifying machines means:

Plugging in and powering on each machine
Checking that it runs smoothly (needle, motor, foot pedal)
Testing basic stitches and tension
Identifying machines that need minor repairs, major repairs, or parts
Labeling machines as Ready, Needs Repair, or Parts Only

The goal is to ensure every verified machine is reliable and ready to serve its purpose before it moves on for distribution or use.

This is from 8:30am-3pm — please bring your own lunch or make plans to eat out.

There are two positions offered:
1) Threading & Running (Testing Machines)
2) Tuning & Cleaning (Making Repairs)

Please sign up for the one you are interested in — and make sure you sign up for February 14th.

April

Sewing Retreat

Come and learn from our expert seamstresses about how to sew Midwest Mission's most needed handmade items. Participants will walk away with knowledge about several different patterns, tips and tricks, and a plethora of resources to help their sewing in the future.

JULY

Bike Repair Blitz

This hands-on workshop brings volunteers together to inspect, repair, and restore unverified donated bikes. Participants will work through basic assessments, cleaning, adjustments, and necessary repairs to help make each bike safe, functional, and ready for use. The goal of the workshop is to efficiently evaluate donated bikes, determine needed fixes, and transform as many as possible into fully operational bicycles that can be put back into service for the community.

OCTOBER

Sewing Machine Repair

Sewing Machine Repair Day is a focused workday where we inspect, test, and repair donated sewing machines to make sure they are safe, functional, and ready for use.

Verifying machines means:

Plugging in and powering on each machine
Checking that it runs smoothly (needle, motor, foot pedal)
Testing basic stitches and tension
Identifying machines that need minor repairs, major repairs, or parts
Labeling machines as Ready, Needs Repair, or Parts Only

The goal is to ensure every verified machine is reliable and ready to serve its purpose before it moves on for distribution or use.

This is from 8:30am-3pm — please bring your own lunch or make plans to eat out.

There are two positions offered:
1) Threading & Running (Testing Machines)
2) Tuning & Cleaning (Making Repairs)

Please sign up for the one you are interested in — and make sure you sign up for October 17th.