Image courtesy of Midwest Mission

A non-profit organization in Jefferson is holding a unique opportunity for people to donate and volunteer for two new ventures.

Midwest Mission Iowa Public Relations Specialist Danille Curtis says this Thursday will be two training sessions for individuals to learn how to repair bicycles and sewing machines that are then sent across the world as micro-businesses with the Bicycle Shop and Sewing Machine Shop. Curtis notes that volunteers will learn processes to repair and clean bikes and sewing machines. The two training opportunities are 8-10am and 10am-noon at the Midwest Mission location in Jefferson. Click here to sign up for a training session.

Curtis is asking for gently used bicycles that are free of rust, as well as tread and electric, not computerized, sewing machines that can be donated from 9am-4pm Monday through Thursday at the Jefferson location. 

Additionally Curtis says about 100 people are volunteering for the Bucket Brigade, where 50, five-gallon buckets that were donated by Ace Hardware in Jefferson, with Bonnie and Don Orris, to fill with cleaning supplies that will be sent to others of the world that experience natural disasters such as tornadoes, flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters; to help with cleaning up. She points out the items that the cleaning buckets will be filled with are household cleaner, dish soap, laundry soap and a scrub brush, and the event takes place from 3-7pm this Wednesday.

Finally, Curtis adds that they will accept used medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and other items for the medical kits that Midwest Mission also sends out across the world. Click here to find out more about the medical equipment list.