92 million tons of textiles end up in landfills every year, most of which are not worn out and are still wearable. The families most affected by this are those who cannot always afford to throw away or replace their clothing.

My grandmother taught me to sew. By middle school, I was able to patch jeans, add ribbons to decorate my pants, and sew scrunchies. When I began volunteering with families experiencing homelessness, I realized my sewing skills could help others keep their clothes longer, save money, and reduce waste. This is why I started Upcycle100.

I've been distributing free sewing kits and leading workshops with Compass Family Services and Samaritan House in San Francisco, teaching families how to mend, patch, and repair their own clothes. Every family keeps their own sewing kit.

I am now expanding this movement nationally. Each $10 kit gives a family a sewing kit that includes a thread, needles, scissors, buttons, and a QR code to video tutorials.

$10 = one family. $1000 allows me to reach 100+ families across the nation. Each dollar raised is invested in materials and shipping.