It began with a common thread…

In 2016, a Tucson lawyer was a sewing, serger, and embroidery student of Professor Rose Skelly. She was inspired by those trauma warriors struggling with chronic illnesses and financial difficulties who she saw in her legal career, but she was also amazed at the caring, talented students who made special handmade items to ease others’ suffering. This student filed in 2018 to form the Mending Souls Charity Factory & Free Academy. Within 3 years the factory and school taught how to make and to donate over 250,000 handmade medical, educational and clothing items in 50 designs, (in over 30 categories!), for all ages and disabilities. The designs are specific - created by the Design & Testing Pros Team at the direction of doctors, teachers and specialists who most need the items.

The Job Training Academy provides opportunities for students and interns to learn and teach sewing, knit/crochet, embroidery, cardmaking, cutting patterns and kit-making for curbside service where over 1,100 volunteers in Tucson pick up/drop off their handmade donations. Over 20 Team Captains and Professors lead their volunteers in pattern cutting, design, kit-making, sewing, inventory/quality control, fundraising and more.  In-house classes are a special gathering place to provide community while creating handmade treasures: Safety Teddies, PPE, blankets, wheelchair/walker totes that are also bed-waist aprons, bibs/burp cloths, chemo caps, Dignity Curtains to go over body fluids, 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.

*Zero-waste efforts includes programs such as washable scrap collections for rescue pet beds!

Spread the LOVE:

Over 139 schools, hospitals, fire/police departments, nursing homes, Veterans homes, homeless/DV shelters, and animal rescues have requested the handmade treasures from Mending Souls. We need SPONSORS to help fill Wish List Order Forms! We also have a program to support the donations of refurbished sewing machines to assisted living facilities and schools. If you know of anyone who may benefit from our donations and classes, please contact us!

Donated items for qualifying groups who are warriors through chronic illness or financial transitions.

Community Testimonials

  • I had no idea how much I could be paid to do upholstery!

    Melanie B., during local retail store tour

  • "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]"

    B.G., Hospital Procurement

  • After having that bone divided it hurts to take a deep breath, sneeze, or cough. We instruct patients to hug these pillows tight … We always have Sharpie markers on hand…to sign their heart pillow…Thank you…– they are precious tools/keepsakes. They truly make a difference in our patient's recovery.

    Nurse Rick, Banner Cardiology

Our Beginnings

Our Founding Members banded together in a classroom at Cathey’s Sew and Vac in 2016. After numerous Mending Souls projects resulted in life-changing, spirit-uplifting involvement in charities, they became an official nonprofit organization in Arizona in 2018.

We are non-denominational, non-political, and simply on a mission to help any soul that needs mending. While the Chapters grow and span across the United States, the first Chapter is located in the beautiful Sonoran desert of Tucson, Arizona. All monies raised in each Chapter stay within and benefit locally their own communities.