The Refugee Artisan Initiative’s “Back to School Bundles” campaign kicked off on Monday.
SEATTLE — A Seattle nonprofit is focusing its efforts this week on providing school supplies to unprotected students and students facing food insecurity.
The Refugee Artisan Initiative’s “Back to School Bundles” campaign kicked off on Monday. It runs until Friday as artisans work to produce 670 school supply packs.
Carmen Brenner, director of development for the Initiative, said she received about 2,000 applications.
Those working at the Initiative were “just shocked” by the number of students who didn’t have access to basic school supplies, Brenner said.
The bundles contain handmade face masks, a pencil case, a reusable sandwich bag and a snack bag. The cost of $30 is offset by donations.
Refugee Artisan Initiative partners with refugee and immigrant women to train artisans and grow businesses.
Founder Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman is an immigrant from Taiwan and said she created the Refugee Artisans Initiative to help more women like her make a graceful transition to the United States through education, professional training and business development.
Her grandmother supported her family through sewing crafts, and Min-Ming thinks refugee and immigrant women in the United States could do the same. There are currently 36 women working with RAI.
According to the organization, it is zero waste. Small-batch manufacturing gives these women the opportunity to start their own business and provide financial independence as they create a new life here in America.
Artisans handcraft and sew everything from pet beds to handbags.
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