Mending Souls

MS Community Angels Sept 2025: Halloween Costumes $2 and ANNUAL BLANKET-A-THON is ON!!

Mending Souls Community Service Superheroes

Announcing New Donation Procedure: Pre-authorization for drop offs - PLEASE if you want to donate items, please text photos to 520-437-6007 to be sure we have the space and need for items!

Come support non-profits and get your Halloween costumes and fun flair for $2! Overstock store has FALL FABRICS all ready to go home with you! Come see Kathy who makes the "Steals and Deals" for you!!

FUNdraising for charities while making it FUN for you too!

Have you ever been gifted a handmade blanket? Or have you been blessed to have been gifted any handmade item? How did you feel once you realized it had been made by hand just for you? [Think Dolly Partons's Coat of Many Colors -see link below in the photos.] Now imagine you needed it to prevent the cold from causing real harm to your health? WE NEED BLANKETS of all kinds, whether handmade or just gently used and loved with your blessings, for those seeking homes and living on the streets of Tucson. Our Mending Souls 9th ANNUAL BLANKET-A-THON is now underway through October 21. Drop off gently used blankets and sleeping bags on Tuesdays and Thursday noon to 3pm at 5320 E Speedway.

Do you know who else fondly recalls handmade items? Our war veterans - and we were reminded of this when we were privileged enough to meet a 103 year old veteran nurse who served during World War II, as did her husband.

Mending Souls Board Visit to Honor Local World War II Veterans: See photos of Mrs. Meyer, AGE 103 (WITH BLUE BASEBALL CAP BELOW), who served as a Nurse during World War II and blessed Michelle and James with a hug and laughs. Her daughter, Tara Meyer Harper, published a book "Letters to Mom" that beautifully shows the raw humanity of our men in uniform through the eyes of her late father, Roy C. Meyer, while he was in service in 1944 and 1945. Mrs. Meyer said even though they served during the same time, they didn't meet during the war. They met back at home. Michelle made her laugh when she responded with: Well maybe that was a good thing because look how handsome he is [see book cover] --you would have been too distracted to be a nurse!! The book is in our local libraries and on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Mom-Soldiers-Account-Sacrifice/dp/B0F8676T7C

The State and Federal Veteran's home and hospital here in Tucson THANK YOU for your handmade treasures! We can never repay them for their sacrifices that have ensured our freedoms but we regularly donate items to bring some comfort and pop of joy for them. From wheelchair-walker bags (that also can be hung on bedsides and on carseats) to chemo capts, blankets, teddies, dignity bandanas, curtains to cover body fluid bags, dignity aprons and more...come help cut, sew or make kits!

Personal Report: Mama Terry shared her story of her special capabilities daughter and their journey with doctors' visits over the years. She has a rare condition and was told she would not live beyond a couple years more. She has been receiving the handmade treasures and shared with us how much EACH and every item was a symbol of joy and most of all, hope from strangers that maybe, just maybe, everyone thinking healing thoughts might lead to answered prayers. Mama Terry said her daughter defied the statistics and is still with us today. Hugs and tears were shared and she made us promise we would never stop making items that show we love and care about others. "In a world where we constantly hear shocking stories where people seem so mean, you prove that humans can be kind and beautiful. Please keep reminding others to be like you!"

COME JOIN US - find YOUR happy place too --YOU make is possible for us to continue to reach out and support all other charities too! Since those classes in 2016 with brilliant teachers and Team Captains who will teach you, FOR FREE, to make kits, cut, sew, crochet, embroider....come meet us on Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 3pm at 5320 E. Speedway (between Rosemont and Craycroft) to find out what you can do to BE a community heroes at the Charity Factory and Free Academy...learn new machines and lead by example: SPREAD JOY and COMFORT INTO THE WORLD...

Come get your hugs, and photos with your favorite Professors and Captains!

CAPTAINS Katie, Stacie, Lyn, Young, Kathy, Rose, Melanie, Laura, MaryLou, Sandy, Dale, Kelly, Erika, Eileen, Julie, Lynda, Jackie, Debbie, Neil, James and all those who have taught the classes over the years - WE LOVE YOU AND ALL OF TUCSON SAYS THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR SHOWING HOW MUCH YOU CARE!!

Calendar:

OCTOBER BLANKET-A-THON : clear out your closet to donate gently used blankets and sleeping bags for the homeless, generously cared for by Pastor Tom Hill and the Z Mansion crew --including UA medical, dental students and social workers. Drop off Tuesdays and Thursdays Noon to 3pm through the 21st.

Come bid on QUILT RAFFLES!! $1 for each ticket! $5 for 6!!

SATURDAY October 11: 11am to noon free CARD CLASS, 1230-2 SEWING or CUTTING! Please email to reserve seats!!

$2 COSTUMES at Bringing Out The Best and Overstock Store FALL FABRIC, notions and machines - COME GET IT!! All proceeds go to supporting the nonrprofit school and charity factory!!

Free Classes 2nd Saturday of the Month- next: Sat: October 11th, 2025 11 a.m. & 1230pm-2!

JOIN US for Free Classes for Card-making, ages 5 and up 11am to NOON, then bring your own lunch snacks, and Sewing ages 11 and up (children accompanied by parents) 12:30 to 2pm. Adults - it's never too late to learn -all the while laughing and hugging! Volunteers, and Students who can't make the Saturday classes, and Sewing groups, book your machines now for any Tuesday or Thursday Noon to 3pm! Make our community a better place thanks to your hands!

Come Donate Items AND SHOP at the "Bringing Out The Best" for all your Upscale Resale Home Furnishings and Clothing: 5320 E. Speedway

Tuesday-Saturday (Sat. closes at 4pm) 10am to 5pm for: "Bringing Out The Best" Retail Shop supports the building for Wings for Women, Optimist International, Mending Souls, and more local nonprofits!

BIG SALE! GREAT DEALS!!

NEED FABRIC? Sewing Machines, Arts & Crafts Notions? COME SHOPPING at our nonprofit to GIVE BACK to our community at the same time!!

TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS NOON-3PM ONLY-- come see our Treasures Store, Overstock Store and Team Turquoise Stores while ALSO shopping at the Upscale Resale rooms at "Bringing Out The Best" at 5320 E Speedway (just east of Rosemont before Craycroft)! Come sew, cut, make kits, cards and more with YOUR Mending Souls Family!

WITH EVERY $10 DONATION, SELECT YOUR GIFT OF SUNGLASSES OR READING GLASSES or Hand Carved Oven Rack Push-Pulls (while supplies last)....

MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOLS: Middle schoolers and High school students are coming in to learn the joy of sewing - please offer your local school to have Home Economics Sewing and 3D classes at Mending Souls! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhL45mReyc8&t=1s

See you on Tuesdays, Thursdays from 12pm to 3pm and the 2nd Saturday of the month 11am to 3pm: 5320 E. Speedway!

FABRIC and SEWING and ARTS and CRAFTS ITEMS!! COME SEE MaryLou or Kathy FOR A "STEAL OF A DEAL!!" to raise money for the Charity Factory and Free Academy!

Quotes of the Day

Quotes worth repeating to others so we can laugh, stay sane, and know we're in this TOGETHER: "In my coat of many colors I felt as rich as I could be...." - Dolly Parton's lyrics in "Coat of Many Colors," describing how her handmade treasure made her feel. You too can come help someone feel special and loved by making handmade treasures---come cut, sew or make kits!

Weekly Earworm Video-Song to Mend Your Soul:

Please email your favorite uplifting soul-soothing song suggestions to share with over 1,100 Mending Souls volunteers and supporters!

Thank you for being part of our Mending Souls Superhero Family. You're super loved; stay safe, happy and healthy -- in a word, 'hozho'. In a phrase, by a Super Volunteer, Tina: "tikkun olam" - let's heal and perfect the world with your hands. You are taking care of the caretakers and crisis heroes, that makes YOU real-life SUPERheroes!

MENDING SOULS BY LOVING ACTS OF KINDNESS,

President and Founder, Michelle Don Carlos, and your Mending Souls Team Captains!

Stacie, we love you!!! Thank you from all the hospitals and clinics who say how much their babies need you here in Tucson!! We're your Mending Souls Family forever!!