STATE COLLEGE — Scraps and Skeins, a social enterprise of Strawberry Fields Inc., recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Scraps and Skeins celebrated the special milestone with a Fibers Arts Showcase that took place on Saturday, May 3, at Toftrees Golf Resort. The event featured more than 100 creative works that incorporated materials purchased from the shop, reinforcing the belief that “reuse is beautiful.”
Made possible with support from the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the showcase included entries from local life skills classrooms, hobbyists and seasoned fiber artists. During the celebrations, guests got the chance to meet artists, explore the displays and learn more about Scraps and Skeins’ mission and work.
Scraps and Skeins was founded in 2015 as a social enterprise of the nonprofit organization Strawberry Fields, Inc., and has grown to be a beloved reuse shop and inclusive employer in the community. The shop makes an effort to keep yarn, fabrics and sewing notions out of landfills, in which the organization has saved 92 tons of material while emphasizing sustainable creativity.
This showcase represents 10 years of community building through creativity and purpose,” Ellen Campbell, one of the founding mothers of Scraps and Skeins, said. “It is a powerful reminder that reuse is truly beautiful.”
Scraps and Skeins provides job coaching and employment opportunities to people with disabilities with the goal of folks having opportunities to grow, contribute and belong.
“Employment rates for people with disabilities are among their highest on record, thanks in part to social enterprises like Scraps and Skeins,” the reuse shop noted in a statement. “However, people without disabilities remain nearly twice as likely to be employed (75% vs. 38%), underscoring the importance of inclusive employment initiatives.”
Strawberry Fields Inc., is an affiliate of Devereux Behavioral Health dedicated to empowering people and enriching lives. The nonprofit has provided support in the community since 1972 through residential, community based and early intervention programs.
The organization also operates two mission-driven social enterprises, Good Day Café and Scraps and Skeins. The two offer meaningful employment opportunities for local residents with disabilities. To learn more, visit sfionline.org. More information about Scraps and Skeins can be found online at scrapsandskeins.org.
