Wool 2 Wishes, the Port Elgin social enterprise that produces wool and fleece mittens using re-purposed woollens, is taking their unique mitten design online. Last week, the 15-year-old operation entered a new phase, launching wool2wishes.com.
In addition to providing flexible local work, Wool2Wishes helps fund some of the programming at PEDVAC, the Port Elgin Voluntary Action Committee. PEDVAC operates a community food bank, hot lunches for students, an annual Christmas box campaign, and literacy programs.
Wool2Wishes started at PEDVAC back in 2005, and in the beginning, relied on volunteers to cut and sew the mittens. But as the product grew in popularity, the organization moved over to a paid work model, providing flexible jobs for people in the community. “Our mittens really do change lives,” says Darcie Kingswell, coordinator of Wool2Wishes. “So with your purchase, you are helping to give back.”
The mittens are currently sold in a number of retail locations throughout the Maritimes, as well as one in Ontario. In Sackville, you can find them at the Craft Gallery, inside the Visitor Information Centre.
Kingswell says that, “anyone that’s able to sew or wants to cut mitten parts, we give them the opportunity to work and make a little bit of cash.” Currently “two cutters and a couple of sewers,” work at assembling the unique design. Work is done at home, to add flexibility and to avoid commuting and child care expenses.
Kingswell selects the woollens from donated materials. “Anything that’s 50 to 100% wool, we can use,” she says, and anything else gets sold at PEDVAC’s boutique, or will get passed on for other use.
Woollens can be donated at PEDVAC, at 12 Church Street, Port Elgin.
