Mending Souls

February’s Second Saturday of the month!

Mending Souls Community Service Superheroes

Many people do not have family and friends close by for the holidays -- these last weeks of the year can be the hardest for many. We CAN lower the stats of highest rates for depression, violence, and crime BY REACHING OUT. Please reach out and invite someone to share a hug and food. Let others know they are loved and valuable. Everyone, if allowed to be seen, has a story and message for us all. Challenge yourself this season: how many people can you offer a surprise gift or surprise invite to share your hugs and time?

With every $10 donation, you get to have a handmade kitchen gift by Bob Harris to use while sharing food this season! Additional donations will receive a new spa set and sunglasses! Mending Souls gifts to keep or give to others!! See front Thrift Store for thousands of other items to gift while upcycling items!

At Mending Souls, EVERY Season is a season of GIVING THANKS!

THANK YOU, TUCSON HEROES!!

Our Mending Souls 9th ANNUAL BLANKET-A-THON WAS A GREAT SUCCESS - YOU ALL MADE AND DONATED OVER 541 BLANKETS! Your love helped 541 more people!! Homeless Expert and Community Volunteer, Rick McCallum, stopped by to give his thanks and remind everyone how cold it is now and many items are needed - from our warm Caps and Scarves, to ear-covering Headbands --all is super loved and needed for those struggling with homelessness. He shared his stories from over the decades of helping those communities living on the streets. From how they have to keep walking at night to stay warm and avoid being beaten and r***d, and how they then are forced to sleep during the day and you may see them as "in your way" and wander why didn't they sleep during the night. Many people are just one medical tragedy away from bankruptcy and losing a job to support a home. (See photo with Captains.) Come by to make these needed treasures during Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 3pm or take kits home to make at home!! 5320 E Speedway.

FIREFIGHTER/EMT Moreno stopped by to give his thanks to you all for you FIRST RESPONDER DRAWSTRING BAGS!! (See Photo with Captains.) When they pick up patients from homes and they need to transport them into the ambulances, they need to grab cell phones, wallets, insurance information. Sadly, it falls off the patients and if they are lucky a plastic grocery bag may try to hold the contents. But with your drawstring bags the EMT-Firefighters are very happy the items have been making it to the hospitals without falling!

The Children's Clinic here in Tucson LOVES YOUR HANDMADE TREASURES for the kids who are true role models of enduring strength - often by the age of 5 with chronic illnesses and syndromes. Nurse Abigail wants everyone to know how much the 3D Printing Team, lead by Captain Neil "Professor 3D" love the Cochlear Implant, G Tube and Hearing Aids made for the children's dolls and teddy bears. "The kids need representation and we can't tell you how much it means to them to see their favorite teddies and dolls have their feeding tubes and hearing devices. Thank you for making these --they are really important, more than I can explain." SEE PHOTOS for examples and please come JOIN US if you want to learn how to help! COME JOIN 3D PRINTING TEAM WHO IS MAKING TOYS FOR TOTS (AND ALL AGES!)

Last but not least, thank you, to the power couple Ana and Kyle! You two are a super Mending Souls Volunteers who give awe-inspiring presentations about Mending Souls to any one who needs to know this: How just a few minutes of anyone's time can make someone very happy who is struggling with chronic illnesses or finances. See photo of Ana presenting to local groups in Tucson!

Personal Report:

Volunteer Student Marcos: I made 12 blankets at Mending Souls for the blanket-a-thon! I have never used a sewing machine or serger before but the teachers are really good and nice to me. After I left and on the way home I looked closer and I saw people who looked like they might be living on the street and I thought about how cold it is at night. I'm coming back to make more things in case there is more they may need until other services can help them get to a better situation. I know that can take time. But these things we make they need right now, so we can do a service to help them right now. See Photos! Come by and see how EASY it is to cut, sew or serge blankets, scarves, beanies and ear warmers!!

COME JOIN US - find YOUR happy place too --YOU make it possible for us to continue to reach out and support all other charities too! Since those classes in 2016 with brilliant teachers and Team Captains who will teach you, FOR FREE, to make kits, cut, sew, 3D Printing, card making, crochet, embroider....come meet us on Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 3pm at 5320 E. Speedway (between Rosemont and Craycroft) to find out what you can do to BE a community heroes at the Charity Factory and Free Academy...learn new machines and lead by example: SPREAD JOY and COMFORT INTO THE WORLD...

Come get your hugs, and photos with your favorite Professors and Captains!

CAPTAINS Katie, Stacie, Lyn, Young, Kathy, Rose, Melanie, Laura, MaryLou, Sandy, Dale, Kelly, Erika, Eileen, Julie, Lynda, Jackie, Debbie, Neil, James and all those who have taught the classes over the years - WE LOVE YOU AND ALL OF TUCSON SAYS THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR SHOWING HOW MUCH YOU CARE!!

CALENDAR: Holiday Fabrics & Cards FOR SALE! Come grab them!!

Donate Your Gently Loved Items to "Bringing Out The Best" Thrift Store for UPcyling and support nonprofits! HOLIDAY FABRIC at our Overstock Store with notions and machines - COME GET IT!! All proceeds go to supporting the non profit school and charity factory!!

CALL to BOOK YOUR SEW-and-CUT-A-THON PARTY and learn to make handmade items for over 145 CHARITIES! Come JOIN the PARTY with your group, friends, school, or organization!!

Mending Souls Closed Thanksgiving Day November 27th.

December 2nd GIVING TUESDAY! Donate to support the Nonprofits to keep us going another year!! Your donation can, dollar-for-dollar be credited to reduce your Arizona state taxes! #22361 for AZ TAX CREDITS when you file your taxes soon - can apply to 2025 or 2026 tax years! Email or call with any questions!

December 5th MS Field Trip: State Veteran's Home 10am to 2pm at 555 E. Ajo Way - come show your support for veterans and help donate items they need with Mending Souls Teams!

SATURDAY December 13: 11am to noon free CARD CLASS, 1230-2 SEWING or CUTTING! Please message us to reserve seats!!

December 18th Mending Souls Holiday Potluck Party Celebration!! STOP BY FOR END OF YEAR WISHES and HUGS!

Mending Souls CLOSED: December 23-January 5. SEE YOU JANUARY 6TH!

Come bid on QUILT RAFFLES!! $1 for each ticket! $5 for 6!!

ALSO Free Classes 2nd Saturday of the Month

11 a.m. & 12:30pm-2pm next:
Sat: December 13th, 2025
Sat: January 10th, 2026

JOIN US for Free Classes for Card-making, ages 5 and up 11am to NOON, then bring your own lunch snacks, and Sewing ages 11 and up (children accompanied by parents) 12:30 to 2pm. Adults - it's never too late to learn -all the while laughing and hugging! Volunteers, and Students who can't make the Saturday classes, and Sewing groups, book your machines now for any Tuesday or Thursday Noon to 3pm! Make our community a better place thanks to your hands!

Come Donate Items AND SHOP at the "Bringing Out The Best" for all your Upscale Resale Home Furnishings and Clothing: 5320 E. Speedway

Tuesday-Saturday (Sat. closes at 4pm) 10am to 5pm for: "Bringing Out The Best" Retail Shop supports the building for Wings for Women, Optimist International, Mending Souls, and more local nonprofits!

BIG SALE! GREAT DEALS!!

NEED FABRIC? Sewing Machines, Arts & Crafts Notions? COME SHOPPING at our nonprofit to GIVE BACK to our community at the same time!!

TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS NOON-3PM ONLY-- come see our Treasures Store, Overstock Store and Team Turquoise Stores while ALSO shopping at the Upscale Resale rooms at "Bringing Out The Best" at 5320 E Speedway (just east of Rosemont before Craycroft)! Come sew, cut, make kits, cards and more with YOUR Mending Souls Family!

WITH EVERY $10 DONATION, SELECT YOUR GIFT OF SUNGLASSES OR READING GLASSES or Hand Carved Oven Rack Push-Pulls (while supplies last)....

MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOLS: Middle schoolers and High school students are coming in to learn the joy of sewing - please offer your local school to have Home Economics Sewing and 3D classes at Mending Souls! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhL45mReyc8&t=1s

Join the Family!

See you on Tuesdays, Thursdays from 12pm to 3pm and the 2nd Saturday of the month 11am to 3pm: 5320 E. Speedway!

Children's Clinics LOVE your help for the children to have representation in their dollies and teddy bears! Join Captain Neil "Professor 3D" to make TOYS FOR TOTS and very adored items like cochlear implants (seen here), or G-tubes (feeding tubes), hearing aids and more!

Quotes of the Day

Quotes worth repeating to others so we can laugh, stay sane, and know we're in this TOGETHER: Many people do not have family and friends close by for the holidays -- please reach out and invite someone to share a hug and food. Let others know they are loved and valuable. Everyone, if allowed to be seen, has a story and message for us all. Challenge yourself this season: how many people can you offer a surprise gift or surprise invite to share your hugs and time?

Weekly Earworm Video-Song to Mend Your Soul:

Please email your favorite uplifting soul-soothing song suggestions to share with over 1,100 Mending Souls volunteers and supporters!

Thank you for being part of our Mending Souls Superhero Family. You're super loved; stay safe, happy and healthy -- in a word, 'hozho'. In a phrase, by a Super Volunteer, Tina: "tikkun olam" - let's heal and perfect the world with your hands. You are taking care of the caretakers and crisis heroes, that makes YOU real-life SUPERheroes!

MENDING SOULS BY LOVING ACTS OF KINDNESS,

President and Founder, Michelle Don Carlos, and your Mending Souls Team Captains!

Mending Souls Community Service Superheroes
Email Newsletter, July 31, 2025

Announcing New Donation Procedure: Pre-authorization for drop offs - PLEASE if you want to donate items, please text photos to 520-437-6007 to be sure we have the space and need for items!

Holidays or Christmas In July - COME GET YOUR FABRIC SALE ITEMS!

BIG QUESTION: Who benefits most - the Gift Giver or the Receiver??

Rhonda Espinoza of Tucson's Foothills Rehab Clinic (see photos of recent tour): You all have no idea what your beautiful gifts mean to everyone here...when we can brighten up their rooms it affects more than just one day. Thank you for thinking of those who are usually forgotten - and it cheers up all the staff too around here!

Cutting Captain Young, who ALSO volunteers by playing piano at local assistance living/long-term care homes, who ALSO has our baby Logan who is a certified therapy dog-visitor, said: The patient let us take her photo - she was so happy with her teddy bear and pillowcase! See photos below - YOUR pop of joy you give others who are struggling with chronic illnesses or financially...it REALLY MEANS MORE TO THEM than you know. Knowing others are thinking loving thoughts of them during their darkest times gives the greatest gift of hope.

But ALSO heard recently:

A daughter and mom came and the daughter announced she received a MENDING SOULS blanket during her hospital stay and she CAME TO THE CHARITY FACTORY to see all about you and to pay it forward by making items at the FREE ACADEMY for others too!! We couldn't be more touched and proud to stand beside them in photos below!

ANOTHER daughter and mom team came and they said how much they love coming to Mending Souls each week - they said they look forward to it and know they will receive lots of hugs and laughs from us all here. "It's my happy place!" was the exact quote!

SO YOU ALL ARE GIVING JOY AND MENDING SOULS FOR THE STUDENTS, STAFF, PATIENTS, AND EVERYONE ALL AT THE SAME TIME...Sending love out into the world makes it a better one for all of us!!

COME JOIN US - find YOUR happy place too --YOU make is possible for us to continue to reach out and support all other charities too! Since those classes in 2016 with brilliant teachers and Team Captains who will teach you, FOR FREE, to make kits, cut, sew, crochet, embroider....come meet us on Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 3pm at 5320 E. Speedway (between Rosemont and Craycroft) to find out what you can do to BE a community heroes at the Charity Factory and Free Academy...learn new machines and lead by example: SPREAD JOY and COMFORT INTO THE WORLD...

THANK YOU's: Mr. and Mrs. Smith for you generous donation to keep Mending Souls going! We love you and look forward to seeing you again! Captain Melanie for our amazing new aprons --come see us and her embroidery work - she is a wizard who can help on all teams!

Come get your hugs, and photos with your favorite Professors and Captains!

CAPTAINS Katie, Stacie, Lyn, Young, Kathy, Rose, Melanie, Laura, MaryLou, Sandy, Dale, Kelly, Erika, Eileen, Julie, Lynda, Jackie, Debbie, Neil, James and all those who have taught the classes over the years - WE LOVE YOU AND ALL OF TUCSON SAYS THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR SHOWING HOW MUCH YOU CARE!!

Calendar:

Come bid on QUILT RAFFLES!! $1 for each ticket! $5 for 6!!

August 9: 11am to noon free CARD CLASS, 12:30-2 SEWING or CUTTING! Newbies encouraged to come! Please email to reserve seats!!

COSTUME FABRIC SALE in August - COME GET IT!! All proceeds go to supporting the nonrprofit school and charity factory!!

Free Classes 2nd Saturday of the Month- next: Sat: August 9th, 2025 11 a.m. & 1230pm-2!

JOIN US for Free Classes for Card-making, ages 5 and up 11am to NOON, then bring your own lunch snacks, and Sewing ages 11 and up (children accompanied by parents) 12:30 to 2pm. Adults - it's never too late to learn -all the while laughing and hugging! Volunteers, and Students who can't make the Saturday classes, and Sewing groups, book your machines now for any Tuesday or Thursday Noon to 3pm! Make our community a better place thanks to your hands!

Come Donate Items AND SHOP at the "Bringing Out The Best" for all your Upscale Resale Home Furnishings and Clothing: 5320 E. Speedway

Tuesday-Saturday (Sat. closes at 4pm) 10am to 5pm for: "Bringing Out The Best" Retail Shop supports the building for Wings for Women, Optimist International, Mending Souls, and more local nonprofits!

BIG SALE! GREAT DEALS!!

NEED FABRIC? Sewing Machines, Arts & Crafts Notions? COME SHOPPING at our nonprofit to GIVE BACK to our community at the same time!!

TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS NOON-3PM ONLY-- come see our Treasures Store, Overstock Store and Team Turquoise Stores while ALSO shopping at the Upscale Resale rooms at "Bringing Out The Best" at 5320 E Speedway (just east of Rosemont before Craycroft)! Come sew, cut, make kits, cards and more with YOUR Mending Souls Family!

WITH EVERY $10 DONATION, SELECT YOUR GIFT OF SUNGLASSES OR READING GLASSES or Hand Carved Oven Rack Push-Pulls (while supplies last)....

MIDDLE and HIGH SCHOOLS: Middle schoolers and High school students are coming in to learn the joy of sewing - please offer your local school to have Home Economics Sewing and 3D classes at Mending Souls! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhL45mReyc8&t=1s

Join the Family!

See you on Tuesdays, Thursdays from 12pm to 3pm and the 2nd Saturday of the month 11am to 3pm: 5320 E. Speedway!

Favorite pics of Mending Souls Family

PLEASE SEND US SELFIES!

FABRIC and SEWING and ARTS and CRAFTS ITEMS!! COME SEE MaryLou or Kathy FOR A "STEAL OF A DEAL!!" to raise money for the Charity Factory and Free Academy!

Quotes of the Day

Quotes worth repeating to others so we can laugh, stay sane, and know we're in this TOGETHER: Just go around and say to everyone - UdabestfromBudapest! SMILE, MAKE PEOPLE WONDER WHAT YOU'RE UP TO!!

Weekly Earworm Video-Song to Mend Your Soul:

Please email your favorite uplifting soul-soothing song suggestions to share with over 1,100 Mending Souls volunteers and supporters!

Thank you for being part of our Mending Souls Superhero Family. You're super loved; stay safe, happy and healthy -- in a word, 'hozho'. In a phrase, by a Super Volunteer, Tina: "tikkun olam" - let's heal and perfect the world with your hands. You are taking care of the caretakers and crisis heroes, that makes YOU real-life SUPERheroes!

MENDING SOULS BY LOVING ACTS OF KINDNESS,

President and Founder, Michelle Don Carlos, and your Mending Souls Team Captains!

***************************************
Older Information for those "New" to the NEWsletter

Please PASS ON to introduce others to Mending Souls - the Charity that supports all the other charities!!

About Volunteers

Channel 9 coverage about our Hall family
https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/eastside-news/how-this-couple-is-stitching-good-moments-together-during-alzheimers-journey

About Mending Souls

TEACHES HS Students Home Ec!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhL45mReyc8

MORE Shopping, Donations and Classes!

Support us by shopping at 5320 E. Speedway Tuesdays/Thursdays Noon-3pm!

OVERSTOCK STORE - fabric, machines, notions and more!

TEAM TURQUOISE STORE! - all things turquoise in color to show your team spirit!

MS TREASURES STORE - over 50 handmade items! Also shop online.

Be a sponsor and purchase a Mending Souls Treasure item so more can be donated to those with chronic illnesses or going through financial traumas. Make a purchase that makes it possible to donate the same items for others while keeping a keepsake for yourself as our thank you.

Shop Online HERE - https://www.lovemendingsouls.org/

Donations - AZ TAX CREDITS needed to survive!

Arizona Tax Credits Needed to Continue into our 8th year - YOU CAN DONATE UP UNTIL TAX DAY, 4/15/26, your choice to apply to 2025 or '26 taxes!

DONATIONS LOVED AND NEEDED! 501(c)3 EIN CODE 83-336-5818 and Arizona Tax Credits (Qualified Charitable Organization) CODE QCO 22361 for donations.As singles you can donate up to $470 (and couples jointly filing, $938) per year to be deducted OFF your state tax liability, dollar-for-dollar! You direct where your own AZ taxes go! That means if you paid (they'll refund you), or will pay, Arizona state taxes for 2024, then you can direct your dollars to a Qualified Tax Credit Charity, like Mending Souls (if you already paid such as in through paycheck deductions, it will be refunded to you by adding Tax Form 321 and writing #22361, the Mending Souls state code!) Your tax dollars have made us stay in operations at the Charity Factory and Free School for over 7 years now!! THANK YOU and please support the Charity that Supports all the Other Charities!

Use AZDOR Form 321, just add Mending Souls's QCO Code -- #22361 -- any questions about charitable donations please ask any Arizona certified tax advisor!

Volunteer

JOIN A TEAM!

Need you for counting for kit making, bagging up for delivery or...

Sewing Team (and NO-Sew Items too!)

Rotary Cutting Team

Hand Cutting Team

Paper Arts Team

Embroidery Team

3D Printing Team

Knitting and Crochet Team

Volunteer at 5320 E. Speedway on Tuesdays/Thursdays Noon to 3pm - or be paired with a mentor to learn to sew/cut/crochet!

Are you a nonprofit? Or a group who serves Tucson or surrounding areas? Want to open a chapter in your city?

Come have a Cut/SEW-a-Thon afternoon at the Charity Factory!

Contact us so we can support you too!!


Mending Souls Charity Factory & Free Academy

Tues/Thurs Noon to 3pm and
*2nd Saturday each month 11-3pm*

5320 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85712

www.LoveMendingSouls.org