Ragfinery’s mission is to grow a culture of creative textile reuse through education, entrepreneurial opportunities, and job training.
Ragfinery opened in April 2014 as the second “jobs from waste” project of ReUse Works. This is the DBA that we use and how we are best known in the community. We provide job training for clients of our partner social service agencies and schools. We collaborate with local artisans and community volunteers to repurpose unwanted garments and textiles into various upcycled goods.
Our Mission
ReUse Works is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and support worker training, job creation, and business development opportunities for low-income residents by using waste and discarded materials.
Job Training
ReUse Works partners with schools and social service agencies to provide on-the-job training for low-income and disadvantaged residents in need of work experience and work references.
Sustainable Development
ReUse Works promotes a sustainable local economy by tapping the waste stream to generate new economic activity. By extending the life of existing products, we save energy and reduce the need to consume virgin raw materials. We also keep local dollars circulating in the community.
Job Creation
ReUse Works creates new jobs in the local economy by creating new jobs, hiring worker trainees, and building the capacity of its business partners in the reuse sector.
Environmental Protection
ReUse Works diverts unwanted materials from the waste stream and encourages reuse over consumption of products made with virgin materials. We reclaim items donated by residents who can receive a federal tax deduction for their donation.
Low-Income Empowerment
ReUse Works provides low-income residents with an opportunity to plan, participate in, and direct a community-owned enterprise as worker trainees, employees, and members of the board of directors.
Appliance Depot was the first project of ReUse Works, a job training business that salvaged, refurbished, and sold used appliances. This innovative business model partnered with social service agencies to provide job training for low-income residents. In its 12 years of operation, Appliance Depot diverted 40,000 unwanted appliances from the waste stream, saved 10,500 appliances for reuse, recycled 3,000 tons of scrap metal, trained and provided work experience for 400 low-income residents, created 14 jobs and generated $3 million in revenue by converting trash into treasure. Appliance Depot closed in 2020.
