6/16/2025

As we finish out our last deliverables for our Department of Ecology Public Participation Grant, we are looking forward to a new contract with the Whatcom County Waste Reduction Pilot Project. This project will continue and expand our free of cost mending services with an emphasis on capturing more underserved populations. If you’re interested in volunteering as a mender at community meals and in partnership with local community action and housing programs, please fill out our volunteer interest form here: https://www.ragfinery.com/volunteer

The biggest question I’m sure you all have is when will we reopen? We are actively looking for a new home for our retail operations and working with an amazing realtor to do so. It’s no secret that rental costs are high, and it’s imperative that we reopen on steady feet, to ensure our future is sustainable and long lasting.

It’s also incredibly important that our new home is ADA compliant and accessible for everyone in our community. That it is walkable/bike-able/bus-able, and has the loading and unloading functionality for the constant flow of incoming and outgoing donations. It may be that we begin smaller and build back up to additional space or a second location, or that we find the right spot that meets criteria with a similar sq footage as before. Just to say many options and creative planning are on the table.

Thank you all for your patience and support, when we are moving forward with a lease agreement we will need a lot of help! All of our fixtures that were salvageable will need to be cleaned, painted, varnished and more. We’ll be actively fundraising to offset the great cost of replacing needed tools, fixtures, supplies, building material and labor to re-open/retrofit our space, as well as donation drives for physical donations to restock after such a huge loss. We will be doing a communication blast when it is time and hope our community can pull together to help us come back strong!

Thank you all so much for all of your support and well wishes, we will continue to send out periodic updates as things progress. And thank you for not forgetting about us, we can’t wait to get moving and hope you’ll all come along with us

1/9/2025 - To Our Dear Ragfinery Community,
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On 12/29/2024, a fire traveled up the side of our building and into the attic, causing devastating fire, water, and smoke damage to our building and inventory. As a result, our shop will not operate as it once did for the foreseeable future.
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Thanks to your generous donations, we are able to pay Ragfinery’s retail staff through January, ensuring a measure of stability for our team during this transition. As we navigate the next steps, Ragfinery will operate with only baseline administrative staff and programming, focusing on our mission while planning for a resilient future.
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You can still see Ragfinery in the community through workshops, free mending events, upcycle challenges, and by engaging with us on social media for educational posts and tutorials. Although the shop is closed for now, we encourage you to stay connected by signing up for our email list or following us on social media for updates. If you’d like to help when the time comes, please fill out the volunteer form on our website.
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This may be our last fire-related update for a while as we shift our focus to recovery and planning. This process will take time, but every dollar donated helps us build a future that honors our mission and values while exploring new possibilities for growth.
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The viability of the building and the timeline for any potential repairs are in the hands of the property owner. These uncertainties mean our path forward will not be quick or straightforward, but we are committed to keeping our community informed as new developments arise.
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We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement from this community. Your kindness and generosity remind us of the profound impact Ragfinery has on all of us.
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With gratitude,
The Ragfinery Team and Board of Directors

1/2/2025 UPDATE To Our Beloved Ragfinery Community,

We are overjoyed to share that, thanks to your incredible support and the overwhelming outpouring of love, we have not only reached but surpassed our fundraising goal! Together, we have raised just over $25,000 to support Ragfinery and our team during this challenging time.

Every dollar donated beyond our initial goal will now go toward sustaining Ragfinery’s baseline operations as we continue to navigate the road to recovery and work to build the most sustainable path forward.

As we’ve shared previously, the fire’s impact has been significant. We are assuming most of our inventory has been lost to smoke and water damage, and the building’s repair lies in the hands of its owners, who are taking all necessary precautions for fire recovery. This is going to be a slow process as we work with our insurance and the property owners work with theirs.

While we know that our shop will not operate as it once did for the foreseeable future, our priority remains taking care of our incredible team. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve been able to ensure we can pay our retail staff through January.

We are deeply grateful for the strength and support of this community. So many of you have offered to volunteer, collaborate, and lend a hand as we recover from this devastating fire. For now, we continue to take things day by day, but we will reach out when the time comes to mobilize.

If you would like to stay involved, here’s how you can help:

Volunteer: Fill out the intake form on our website so when the time comes that we need volunteers, we will have everyone's contact information on file.
Space Sharing: If your business or organization has space available for workshops, email Workshops@Ragfinery.com.
Fundraising Partnerships: Fill out the contact form on our website to partner with us.

Your generosity and encouragement remind us of the profound impact Ragfinery has on this community. Together, we will create a future that honors our mission and values while exploring new possibilities for growth.

Thank you for standing with us and for being part of Ragfinery’s journey.

With immense gratitude,
The Ragfinery Team and Board of Directors

12/31/24

Support Ragfinery: Help Cover Staff Pay and Expenses as We Navigate This Loss After the Fire

As we assess the damage caused by the recent fire and develop a plan for the future, we want to acknowledge that this will be a slow and uncertain process. At this point, we believe most, if not all, of our inventory has been lost due to smoke and water damage. The responsibility for repairing the building lies with its owners, who are taking all necessary precautions and following the appropriate steps for fire recovery.

What we do know is that our shop will not operate as it once did for the foreseeable future. During this transition, our priority is to take care of our team. We are committed to paying all of our retail staff through the month of January to support them as we navigate what comes next and determine how Ragfinery can move forward without a physical space for the time being.

Our goal is to raise $23,000 to support our retail staff and maintain essential operations during this uncertain time. Thanks to your generous support, we have already raised $13,000 and have $10,000 left to reach our goal. These funds will help us care for our incredible team and sustain critical operations through January while we work to determine Ragfinery’s future. If you’re able, please consider donating to this fund.

We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement from our community. We know many of you want to mobilize and help Ragfinery get back on its feet. We will reach out when the time comes. In the meantime, you can fill out the volunteer intake form on our website to stay connected.

If you are a business or organization with a space available for workshops, please email Workshops@Ragfinery.com. If you’d like to partner with us for fundraising opportunities, please fill out the contact form on our website.

Right now, we are taking things day by day as we follow the steps to recover from this devastating fire. While the future is unclear, we are committed to building a sustainable path forward.

Thank you for standing with us during this challenging time. Ragfinery is so loved and cherished by our community, and together, we will find a way to continue making an impact.

With gratitude, The Ragfinery Team and Board of Directors

Your Support Transforms Our Community

Ragfinery’s mission is to grow a culture of creative textile reuse through education, entrepreneurial opportunities, and job training. Your financial contributions are essential in making this mission a reality.

By donating, you help us:

Empower individuals through job training and skill-building programs.
Promote entrepreneurial opportunities that foster creativity and innovation.
Educate our community on the importance of textile reuse and sustainability.

Support Ragfinery's Mission & Fire Support