A company which manufactures children's dress-up costumes in Point Edward is giving back by using its leftover fabric for good causes.
Great Pretenders, also known as Creative Education of Canada, has started making blankets and quilts for local shelters in Sarnia.
Staff at Great Pretenders, also known as Creative Education of Canada, show off a quilt made for local shelters. 2022 Image courtesy of Julie Donald.
Quality Manager and Product Development Supervisor Julie Donald said they were looking to do some cleanup and remove fabric from the Mara Street site when they came up with an idea.
"We're growing so much, we don't have room for everything, so the most important thing to me was when we came across some of the fabrics I thought it would be great if we could make some blankets for the homeless," said Donald.
She said there were several boxes of material already cut into squares to make masks.
"We have a lot. Like thousands and thousands of squares of material that we are using."
The business started sewing face coverings to meet an urgent need at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
Donald estimates they'll probably make about 150 quilts.
"We have about 20 completed," said Donald. "The Inn of the Good Shepherd would like them, the Haven Youth Centre would like them, we're going to reach out to River City and the Sarnia and District Humane Society."
Quality Assurance Inspector Chelsea Zago said she feared the material wouldn't be used.
Packaged quilts made for local shelters.
"Initially my concern was that I didn't want to see any more waste going into the garbage because I think the textile industry is known, I guess, for waste," said Zago. "I wanted to avoid as much (material) going into the landfill as possible. So, this is a great solution."
Zago hopes the idea inspires other businesses to think outside the box.
"To be able to go above and beyond like this, nothing is going to go in the garbage. If there's someone it can go to, or be useful, it's just such a great thing."