Ministry with Community group turns craft into cash

By Madison Bennett | MLive

KALAMAZOO, MI - Knitting and crocheting may not seem like much of a way to make a living for most, but for one group of crafters, the income it generates makes all the difference.

"In the case of one of our members, it's her rent every month," Betty Smyth said.

Smyth is the lead member of the Creative Crafting Collective, a crafting group made up of members at Ministry with Community, a resource center and daytime shelter for people struggling with homelessness, poverty, unemployment, mental illness and other challenges. On average, about eight members attend meetings but they can have as many as 16.

The group started a few years ago at Ministry with Community's old location on Church Street and carried on with the organization when they moved to a larger building at 500 N. Edwards St.

"It really is a great realization of the potential of the new building and very much in keeping with what Ministry with Community does, which is trying to provide myriad opportunities for folks to make positive life choices," said Rob Oakleaf, executive director of Ministry with Community.

The group over the summer applied for a grant through Presbytery of Lake Michigan. Smyth said they found out they were approved for the grant in October and it received the funds until the following month.

"That will keep us going all year and then some," she said of the grant, which is specifically focused on helping people be more self-sufficient.

"We're acting as fiduciary for the grant and that just means that we are making sure that the funds are spent on what the group promised to spend them on," Oakleaf said.

Smyth said the group uses the money to purchase supplies and materials, as well as for booth rentals and transportation to craft shows, where members sell their products.  

Each member keeps the money they make from selling their individual craft items. The income isn't a means to an end for most members, but Smyth said every bit, no matter how big or small, makes a difference.

For members like Smyth, knitting and crocheting also serves other purposes, too.

"It's a form of pain therapy for me," Smyth said. "I use it instead of having to medicate myself with narcotics and medications like that. It also helps with my anxiety levels and basically just gives me something to do."

The Creative Crafting Collective meets at Ministry with Community on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. 

This post originally appeared Dec. 26, 2016 on MLive.com.