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FABSCRAP depends on an engaged community of volunteers

THANK YOU

Textile recycling requires a lot of manpower. There is no mechanized system for sorting textiles by fiber or to remove stickers, staples, and fabric headers (yet!). This is why our volunteers are so important and make such a difference. It's easy to learn and fun to do. On average, volunteers sort ~2,000 lbs of fabric every week! FABSCRAP works because of the enthusiasm and effort of people like you.

WHAT TO EXPECT

All volunteer sessions take place the FABSCRAP warehouse in Brooklyn (directions here). Each session is 3 hours long with 11 signups available. We are presently holding AM and PM sessions Mon-Fri, 9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-4 pm. Here's how a session works:

  1. Intros and overview of FABSCRAP (10 minutes)

  2. Learn how to sort the fabric scraps (15 minutes)

  3. Sort through fabric samples and large pieces, pulling out usable fabrics for reuse and removing hardware and paper from fabric swatches for recycling  (2.5 hours)

  4. Shop for fabric after the session!

To thank you for your time, we’re happy to give you 5 pounds of FREE fabric plus a 30% volunteer discount on any additional material OR waive the fee for recycling up to 10 lbs of personal sewing scraps, OR sign a community service form.

NOTE: FABSCRAP is unable to receive used garments or home linens for recycling.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SESSION

We welcome all sorters over the age of 10! Please...

  • Consider the health and safety of your fellow volunteers and the FABSCRAP team. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of COVID-19 and cancel your session if you are not feeling well, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or had direct contact with an individual diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

  • Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes as most volunteers sort while standing. We can provide chairs if you prefer to sit!

  • Bring your own bag to carry home any fabric you shop!

  • We play music, but feel free to bring headphones

  • Feel free to bring water or beverages with a cap/lid; there are also vending machines in the building

  • As the weather gets cooler, windows will only be open for ventilation depending on outside temperature

NOTE: Sorting fabric requires the use of sharp scissors and some moderate lifting (20-30 lbs). By registering for a session, you are confirming that you have read, understand, and agree to the volunteer waiver.

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SPECIAL GROUP SESSIONS

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CORPORATE VOLUNTEER DAYS

Volunteering at FABSCRAP is a great, team-building way to support sustainable infrastructure for the fashion and design industries. We welcome corporate groups! We can accommodate your team and schedule with enough notice. 

BIG GROUPS, CLASSES, AND EVENTS

Bring your organization, class, or club to visit FABSCRAP! We can also donate free fabric to charitable projects or classes. Let us know how we can help!

 

MORE DETAILS

REGISTRATION: Sign up for a volunteer session on Eventbrite for Brooklyn sessions! Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate walk-ins at this time so please verify the date(s) you’ve signed up for. Each registration is for one person only so if you are volunteering with a friend, they must register for their own spot. Please note that minors under the age of 16 have to be accompanied by an adult for volunteer sessions.

REUSE VOLUNTEERS: Each month, all volunteers who have attended 10 or more sorting sessions will receive an invitation to become a Reuse Volunteer and process materials in our Reuse bins AFTER they leave the initial sorting table! We monitor our Eventbrite registrations closely. If you think you may have completed 10 sorting sessions and did not receive a Reuse Volunteer invitation, let us know at volunteer@fabscrap.org. Please use the same email you use to register for sessions.

HOST VOLUNTEERS: We are sending monthly invites to Reuse Volunteers as they reach 3 Reuse sessions to become a Host Volunteer! A Host volunteer will understand the flow of materials through the FABSCRAP warehouse, are able to guide first-time volunteers and eventually lead their very own volunteer sessions, and receive an in-depth look at our operations. We monitor our Eventbrite registrations closely. If you think you may have completed 3 Reuse sorting sessions and did not receive a Host Volunteer invitation, let us know at volunteer@fabscrap.org using the email you register for sessions with.

CANCELLING YOUR REGISTRATION: If you can no longer volunteer for any reason, please cancel your registration. You can follow these simple instructions here. We have limited space in our volunteer sessions, and this will open your spot for another volunteer.

SHARING RULES: We LOVE when volunteers are excited about their time at FABSCRAP and share pictures on social media. However, we ask that you respect the privacy of the companies we work with and DO NOT USE OR SHARE brand names. Please review the volunteer waiver for more info.

SAFETY FIRST: We use scissors to remove fabric from headers, and they're sharp! There may be pins in the fabric as well. We have a First-Aid kit on hand, but please sort carefully. 

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JOIN US

WHO'S FAB >>

We're proud to work with great companies! See who's giving scraps and who's using them.

 NEWS >>

We're sharing what's new, what's next, what we're learning about textile waste, and what people are saying about FABSCRAP.

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