Carbonear Green Team breathes new life into old textiles
cap: Members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Food Bank’s Green Team in Carbonear have had a busy summer repurposing old clothing and teaching others to do the same. From left are Kaitlin Clarke, Taylor Bell, Lynnsey Turner, and Jashan Preetkaur. In front is Abby Clark. Alexandria Crann photo
Members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Food Bank’s Green Team in Carbonear tackled some interesting work this past summer.
The team was comprised of four people: team leader, 20-year-old Abby Clark of Carbonear; 20-year-old Jashan Preetkaur of India who is living and studying in Carbonear, 27-year-old Taylor Bell who moved to Carbonear from Ontario nine years ago; and 29-year-old Lynnsey Turner of Victoria. The team’s project was called Preserving Culture Sustainably and looked at ways to reduce textile waste.
Clark said much of the increased waste from textiles is due to fast fashion.
“It’s like a cycle,” she said. “Companies contract out cheap sweatshops overseas, which use cheap materials and, therefore, the clothes rip easier and get thrown in the garbage. With our project this summer we are trying to promote recycling those types of clothing.”
The Green Team hosted rug-braiding workshops in which they repurposed old clothing to be used to make rugs.
“The goal of the project is to focus on traditional Newfoundland things,” said Kaitlin Clarke, the Food Bank’s communications and outreach coordinator. “Because, in the past, you would just repair your clothes to the point of not being able to anymore, and then you would repurpose it into things like rug-braiding or rug-hooking.”
People in the community were offered a chance to attend the workshops for free. The team hosted the events at the Carbonear Railway Museum, and one at the Wooden Boat Museum in Winterton.
The workshops gave older citizens a great opportunity to get out and socialize, said Bell.
“Like a little tea party almost, it’s great!” Bell added.
Clarke says one of the focuses of the project was to get young people interacting with older citizens.
The Green Team also hosted a repair café where they taught people how to repair their clothing rather than throw it out. They also presented ‘environmental awareness events’ at daycares and day camps, teaching children about environmental sustainability.
Clarke said the project gave the Green Team members the opportunity to network and hone their public speaking skills. They also received training in food security issues, cultural diversity, and First-Aid.
Clark, meanwhile, said being a member of a Green Team is a great opportunity and experience.
As for the food bank itself, located at 4 St. Clare Avenue in Carbonear, Bell described it as a welcoming and accepting place.
“The extreme amount of inclusivity at this place is one of the most prominent ones that I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Bell said. “I’ve never been to another job or another place in which you can walk in and feel completely comfortable in your own skin.”
Bell was impressed by how the volunteers at the food bank were so supportive and understanding of people who struggle with mental health issues or who have disabilities.
“There’s so much help for you here,” she said. “There is no discrimination.”
The food bank has not only food, but also a clothing room, hygiene room, and some toys available.
Members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Food Bank’s Green Team in Carbonear tackled some interesting work this past summer.
The team was comprised of four people: team leader, 20-year-old Abby Clark of Carbonear; 20-year-old Jashan Preetkaur of India who is living and studying in Carbonear, 27-year-old Taylor Bell who moved to Carbonear from Ontario nine years ago; and 29-year-old Lynnsey Turner of Victoria. The team’s project was called Preserving Culture Sustainably and looked at ways to reduce textile waste.
Clark said much of the increased waste from textiles is due to fast fashion.
“It’s like a cycle,” she said. “Companies contract out cheap sweatshops overseas, which use cheap materials and, therefore, the clothes rip easier and get thrown in the garbage. With our project this summer we are trying to promote recycling those types of clothing.”
The Green Team hosted rug-braiding workshops in which they repurposed old clothing to be used to make rugs.
“The goal of the project is to focus on traditional Newfoundland things,” said Kaitlin Clarke, the Food Bank’s communications and outreach coordinator. “Because, in the past, you would just repair your clothes to the point of not being able to anymore, and then you would repurpose it into things like rug-braiding or rug-hooking.”
People in the community were offered a chance to attend the workshops for free. The team hosted the events at the Carbonear Railway Museum, and one at the Wooden Boat Museum in Winterton.
The workshops gave older citizens a great opportunity to get out and socialize, said Bell.
“Like a little tea party almost, it’s great!” Bell added.
Clarke says one of the focuses of the project was to get young people interacting with older citizens.
The Green Team also hosted a repair café where they taught people how to repair their clothing rather than throw it out. They also presented ‘environmental awareness events’ at daycares and day camps, teaching children about environmental sustainability.
Clarke said the project gave the Green Team members the opportunity to network and hone their public speaking skills. They also received training in food security issues, cultural diversity, and First-Aid.
Clark, meanwhile, said being a member of a Green Team is a great opportunity and experience.
As for the food bank itself, located at 4 St. Clare Avenue in Carbonear, Bell described it as a welcoming and accepting place.
“The extreme amount of inclusivity at this place is one of the most prominent ones that I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Bell said. “I’ve never been to another job or another place in which you can walk in and feel completely comfortable in your own skin.”
Bell was impressed by how the volunteers at the food bank were so supportive and understanding of people who struggle with mental health issues or who have disabilities.
“There’s so much help for you here,” she said. “There is no discrimination.”
The food bank has not only food, but also a clothing room, hygiene room, and some toys available.