Hey crafters! Denise and Shelby here--we're a mother-child duo opening Extra Yarn, a specialty fiber shop in Springfield, IL, because we love crafting and want there to be more opportunities for crafters to connect with each other and to be able to see and feel the fiber in-person.

Our vision is to create an accessible and inclusive community space where crafters can come to relax and connect and maybe grab a cuppa from the coffee shop next door. Unfortunately, accessibility is almost never affordable, so we're raising money to make our space wheelchair accessible. Here is what we plan to do to make sure the space is functional for all:

Extend concrete ramp – $5,000

Currently, there are two steps to get into our shop space, making it entirely inaccessible to wheelchair users and others using mobility aids. The coffee shop next door has a concrete ramp that stops just before our shop, so we’ve obtained a quote from Brown Concrete to have new concrete poured, extending the existing ramp to reach the entrance of our shop.

Add button-operated automated door system + new door – $3,000

The current front door to our shop is an old wooden swing door that isn’t secure or accessible. We want to replace this door with a glass commercial door ($1,000) and install an ADA compliant automatic door opener ($2,000). These two additions would ensure that our storefront is entirely accessible and welcoming to all customers.

Our goal is to complete both of these tasks before we open later this summer.

If you’re able, we hope you’ll consider pitching in to help us create an accessible community space for everyone to enjoy. To show our gratitude, donors like you will receive an invitation to our pre-launch party where there will be games, snacks, and the opportunity to meet and socialize with fellow crafters. The date for the pre-launch party is TBD, but will most likely take place late August or early September of this year.

If you’re not able to financially contribute, you can still help us out by sharing this page and by visiting the shop once we are open. We appreciate support in any form :)

Thank you in advance for your support, whatever that may look like.

Happy crafting,

Denise and Shelby