Local Volunteer Wraps up a Decade in Volunteer Seamstress Role

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos by Eliot Berven, Catholic Charities Twin Cities

For the past ten years, Karen Martodam has mended clothing for hundreds of people experiencing homelessness in Minneapolis as a volunteer. She has donated her time, expertise and supplies to repair clothing, but she also brought warmth and dignity to residents and guests at the Catholic Charities Higher Ground Minneapolis campus and Mary F. Frey Opportunity Center. 

“Over the past decade, Karen’s work as a volunteer seamstress has met a practical need: helping ensure people in need have durable clothing through Minnesota’s changing seasons,” said Keith Kozerski, chief program officer at Catholic Charities Twin Cities. “But even more importantly, Karen’s consistent presence demonstrated her compassion and showed our guests that people care about them.”

We talked to Karen about what this volunteer role has meant to her and her customers, the next thing on her horizon and practical advice for those considering a similar volunteer activity. 

Q:  What first inspired you to begin this volunteer work 10 years ago?

A:  After retiring from a corporate finance position that left me with little time to contribute on a consistent basis, I suddenly had time on my hands to give back to the community. I had done the ‘usual’ stuff - donating blood, working with United Way - but was really interested in a way to make a positive impact in a consistent way. My brother-in-law worked at Catholic Charities Twin Cities, and that personal connection to the organization got me started.

I now volunteer regularly at two Catholic Charities Twin Cities locations: the Mary F. Frey Opportunity Center and Higher Ground Minneapolis. Once I started volunteering, I realized there was a way to marry my desire to help with my specialized sewing skills. Sewing was always a hobby of mine that I was excited to dive deeper into upon retirement, so being able to bring that into my new volunteer commitment really made it seem like the perfect role for me!

Q:  Do you remember the first garment or repair you made for someone in need? Can you describe that experience?

A:  Yes, one of the first projects was to reattach the sleeves to a dress shirt that had been torn off. My first inclination was to suggest that the client find another shirt, but I know that clothing can hold an emotional connection and wanted to keep that intact for them. They were so happy with the end result. What had felt like a simple project to me had been meaningful to them, and encouraged me to keep going.

Q:  Did you expect this to be something you’d do for a full decade?

A:  I really didn’t think about that when I began. When I started, my husband was not yet retired, so I made this part of my weekly schedule. There have been various times when my commitment has scaled back (Covid, wintering in warmer weather), but it has remained a part of my regular monthly schedule when I am in the Cities. After Covid, I reduced my schedule to bi-weekly, working around family time and a few months away from the Minnesota cold. 

Q:  What kinds of items have you repaired most often?

A:  The most requested “fix” I have done is replace zippers. Zippers in jackets, backpacks, sweatshirts, pants, etc. I bring approximately 30 zippers each time in various lengths, colors and utility. I try to match the color as best as I can, but the clients really don’t care about the color. Some of the clients really love the new “contrast” they have on their clothing. 

Q:  Were there any unexpected challenges in sewing for people experiencing homelessness?

A:  The biggest challenge is that some clients expect a quick fix. Repairing a garment can be much more difficult than starting from scratch, and timing can be an issue as all repairs need to be done on site. I’ve developed a few little work-arounds to issues like repairing holes without deconstructing the garment.  Sometimes there are fabrics (like leather) that my machine is not equipped to handle. My repairs almost always look “repaired” - but I do the best that I can with the machine and tools that I bring with me.

Q:  Did you have opportunities to meet or hear from the people who receive your work?

A:  For the work that I do at both Higher Ground Minneapolis and The Opportunity Center, I meet each of the clients in person. In most cases, I am able to help in some way. I let them know if there is a limitation, but assure them that I will do what I can. There have been a couple of projects that were presented by the Catholic Charities Distribution Center that I was able to take off-site and work on on my own. This included sweatshirts that were donated but needed a “cover-up” of some offensive language. I was able to get help from members of one of the quilt guilds I am a part of. Another project was to take new donated work pants and make them into shorts. That project was done in conjunction with another volunteer even though I never met her. Of all of the people I have helped, all have been extremely appreciative of my efforts, even if I have had to tell them I couldn’t always do what they needed.

Q:  What have you learned - about others, about yourself…through this experience?

A:  Oh, this is a hard one. I hope that I have learned to be more patient and more understanding of others’ situations. I don’t know the clients’ backgrounds, but I do know that (to quote Mary Jo Copeland), "They are in a difficult situation through no fault of their own." And for sure, I know how blessed I am to have a home, a loving family and good health. 

Q:  What would you say to someone considering a quiet but powerful form of service like this?

A:  I would encourage them to shadow someone doing this so that they get an idea of what this entails. I bring a wagon full of supplies such as zippers, buttons, bias tape, needles, iron-on patches, 30 different colors of thread and a host of other supplies. It can be difficult to be prepared for whatever is needed, but just do what you can; it is very rewarding.

Q:  Do you have any advice for future volunteer seamstresses or tailors?

• It’s okay to take shortcuts in sewing to get the job done.
• It’s okay to say, “I just can’t do that” or “I can do it, but maybe in a different way.”
• I am here to fix clothing, not create it.

Q:  What’s next for you now that this chapter is closing?

A:  Right now, I have a lot of different directions I can go. I would love to continue to volunteer in a way that aligns with our travel schedule and extended family activities. And I would like to find a way to give back that includes my interest in sewing and quilting. I have been quilting for over a decade, but am always trying to sharpen my skills there. Hopefully there’s an opportunity on the horizon involving that! I am so thankful to have helped Catholic Charities over the last ten years and I hope that I can help on other projects that may be “one-offs” instead of a regular schedule.