A wall of Bernettes!
We kind of have a “thing” going with Bernina. I guess you could say we’re “in a relationship” although I haven’t updated our Facebook status. But over the years, Bernina has been incredibly kind to The Sewing Machine Project.
Back in 2008, Bernina featured its first “Give and Get Back” promotion where people could trade in their old machine, designating it to be given to a charitable group, and they received a discount on a new Bernina. And that charitable group was…you guessed it…The Sewing Machine Project. They repeated that sweet promotion in 2013. Some machines came our way and some were donated within the communities that each dealership called home. No matter where the machines ended up we were grateful that the directive was to place sewing machines in the hands of people who otherwise were unable to purchase them for themselves. And people got to learn about The Sewing Machine Project to boot!
Flora smiles knowing she’ll be able to offer sewing classes-Kosovo
Local kids get the chance to sew with the help of Sewing Shares machines
Bernina International-Switzerland donated sewing machines in 2009 which ended up going to Kosovo. These machines made a dream come true when a small women’s collective was able to use them to educate other war widows in their region, helping them learn skills they could use to support their families.
Bernina of America donated machines that were used for our Sewing Shares program. The goal of this program was to loan machines to local groups for basic sewing education.
In 2012 Bernina of America donated over 300 machines that have gone in sets to groups around the country. What a blessing to be able to donate matching machines!
Our latest gift, 10 Bernette 25’s!
And most recently, we received a surprise gift of 10 Bernette machines from Bernina of America. These machines just left yesterday, traveling to a camp in the Eastern US where girls will learn to sew as part of a summer program–girls who usually wouldn’t have this opportunity, girls whose camp fees are paid by scholarship.
We are honored to work with a company that raises the importance of community and giving back into the spotlight and we are so grateful for these gifts which allow us to do the same.
My blog is affiliated with Bernina, too. They’re a great organization. I’m so happy to learn about their assistance with your work. Keep spreading the sewing love!
It’s been such a privilege to share in this amazing relationship & program with BERNINA of America! As a seamstress and advocate for changing the way we consume and create I am proud to support The Sewing Machine Project because I how what a powerful impact you are making in heart of these communities and positive difference you are making for our future environment & economy! Thank you & cheers to continued success together!
Thank you thank you! Thanks to the Sewing Machine Project 4 machines will be going to Haiti this June to teach a women’s group to sew and hopefully start a successful business that expands and expands. Thank You again.
Heather
Project Hope
Thank you Bernina for doing this for others! I go to garage and estate sales, buying old sewing machines and fixing them to donate to organizations that will use them – hopefully to teach sewing skills to others. This makes me so happy to see a big company doing this! I know of so many sewing machine stores that take machines as trade-ins and they throw them away. Thank you, thank you!