Huron Hospice hosts drop-in mending cafe for clothing repairs and community connections

Sewing volunteers busy at work.

The Huron Hospice Mending Café provides an opportunity for residents to learn sewing skills, connect with volunteers, and discover the services and programs offered at the facility.

The Huron Hospice Mending Café will be held on October 24 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and October 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This drop-in event, featuring cookies and coffee, is drop-in only and open to the community, with admittance by donation. 

Helen Varekamp who has been teaching sewing lessons at Huron Hospice for the past two years as a volunteer says that one of the most popular classes focused on mending, where participants could bring their own clothing. 

The program grew into the Mending Café, held at the hospice to provide a dedicated space for those who cannot sew for themselves. While waiting, participants can tour the facility and learn more about the hospice.

“Our main focus is for the community to connect with Huron hospice and discover what the facility has to offer and meet some of the volunteers and staff,” said Varekamp.

“We already see people getting involved with the hospice in the past from certain events similar to this one, it would be great to see volunteer growth.” 

Varekamp said that raising awareness of the hospice is a key goal of the Mending Café. Staff will be available during the event to provide tours, giving participants a chance to learn more about the facility and its services.

“We had our first one in July, we were very pleased with the feedback, and it was a success and from there,” added Varekamp.

“Now, we will be having a mending cafe every spring and fall and it’s run by volunteers in our local community.”

She adds that many residents of Huron County are unfamiliar with the hospice, and the event provides an opportunity to see firsthand what it offers. Understanding the hospice can also be valuable for families who may need its services in the future.

Varekamp also taught sewing classes with another volunteer for the past two years at the hospice, with some of the people she taught set to help at the Mending Cafe. She said that sewing classes have gathered a huge interest from the community as new inquiries are frequently coming in along with client waitlists. 

“It is rewarding for our community to provide a service that is not as available anymore like mending and that’s why we thought it would be a good fit,” explained Varekamp.

“I think a lot of people are understanding the value of repairing clothing and waiting to learn a skill that has been a bit forgotten over the last decade. People can take their lovely project home as well.”

Varekamp began volunteering with Huron Hospice in 2018 and has since supported a variety of initiatives, from gardening and cleaning to helping wherever needed.

Volunteering has been beneficial for her personal and physical well-being and is something she genuinely enjoys.

She said the experience has been deeply rewarding, noting that the hospice provides its volunteers with both freedom and strong support.