Dec Newsletter
It was a great year!!
Thank you all for the support!!
As we come to the end of 2025,
I want to say Thank You to you, readers of this newsletter, and all who support SZW’s work including volunteers, funders, program partners and managers, and board members. It is your support and enthusiasm that continues to inspire and enable us to do the work we do. Take a look below for a snapshot of how our work is impacting our community.
Our work focuses on reducing and eliminating waste; specifically textile and food waste. Why do we work on both? Because they play a significant role in the climate crisis and are inextricably linked to planetary health.
Textile and food waste contribute to GHG emissions; textiles because over 60% are created from petroleum based synthetics. Food waste emits methane gas when landfilled, a potent GHG, and slows incineration at the waste to energy plant. Their link is with the microplastics that shed from synthetic fibers that make their way into our air, water and soil and inevitably into our food and bodies. It is because of this relationship that SZW is also involved in developing a natural textile economy through the Inland Northwest Woolshed. You’ll hear more about this exciting work in the coming months.
Vision for 2026: Live Your Values
We envision a year of growing our community and impacts by deepening the roots of our programs and inviting the community to “Live Your Values” with us.
Mend-It Cafe: Through thoughtful guidance and her expertise in sewing, Erin Bietz, Mend-It Cafe Manager, has taken Mend-It Cafe to new levels of efficiency and helped expand the program's reach to county residents and Spokane community members in a variety of locations. In 2026, you’ll see Mend-It Cafe on a regular rotation of locations including city and county libraries, the Scale House and more. We’ll also continue to grow our collaborations with educational institutions, service providers and local businesses to serve as many Spokanites with free mending services as possible. Check our website for upcoming events.
Deep gratitude and respect to all our volunteer menders who generously provide their skills and talents at these events. Their work helps keep textiles in use longer and reduce textile waste in our community
Sustainable Sewing Lab: Our public mending, making and reuse classes, are in the most capable hands of Tori Thurman. Tori is adeptly developing our class offerings for 2026, which will include such gems as Reverse Applique, Introduction to Quilting, and Make Your Own Undies. Our classes are held at our new location at 2026 N. Hamilton Street. You can find upcoming classes in this newsletter, on our website and on our social media channels.
A special Thank You to Michelle Eames and Katelyn Allers for volunteering their time and talent to supporting our classes, we are so grateful.
ReCraftLAB is all about demonstrating the circular economy and creating a dialog around materials reuse. In 2026, you’ll see more of our upcycled, zero-waste living creations, such as lunch totes, utensil rolls, toiletry kits and cloth produce bags in local retail spaces. You’ll also see new products for crafters and outdoor enthusiasts making an appearance. All of this means more work for the refugee and immigrant women who make these products and less waste in our community.
Find ReCraftLAB products here
Correction:
Thank you to Liz Mellville, for her contributions to last month's newsletter.
Liz wrote the article “Working for Change”, which we failed to credit her for.
Upcoming Legislative Session
The Washington state legislative session kicks off in January. SZW is pleased to welcome Seamus Mahoney, third year student at Eastern, who will be helping us track activity on a variety of waste reduction bills.
Seamus Mahoney
Seamus grew up outdoors, where they developed their passion for learning about environmental issues, helping educate others, and providing protections for the environment. They are currently a junior at Eastern Washington University, where they are pursuing a bachelor's degree in Environmental Policy & Planning. As the legislative correspondent for SZW, Seamus will help you stay up to date with relevant legislative activities and actions you can take on waste related bills.
Tune in to our social media channels beginning in January, for the most up-to-date information and actions you can take to support policies that will help ensure a cleaner, more climate-friendly future.
Funder Spotlight: LIL
The Levine Impact Lab is dedicated
to driving positive social and environmental change by empowering visionary nonprofits deeply embedded in their communities. We provide unrestricted grant funding, tailored coaching, and close engagement to support a journey towards impactful change.
“There is No Waste in Nature –
Everything is a Resource”
