Daily Inspiration: Meet Lucy Kulbago

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Kulbago.

Hi Lucy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sew4Service was founded by Lucy Kulbago in August 2021. Lucy has supported many charitable organizations in her community, and has volunteered her time as a Girl Scout leader and service unit director, Science Olympiad coach and event supervisor, PTO member and president, and more. She also found a creative outlet through quilting and crocheting and is a member of the Cotton Candy Quilt Guild.

The idea for Sew4Service came from an awareness of people who like to engage in a creative outlet like sewing, quilting, crocheting, and knitting, but don’t necessarily have a receiver in mind. Similarly, there are individuals and organizations who appreciate donations of these types of handmade items, but don’t know anyone willing to make these items. Sew4Service bridges that gap and makes connections with People who Sew and Create with People and Pets in Need of handmade items.

Sew4Service also seeks to teach people basic creating skills so they too can make handmade items that can be donated to people in their community. Sew4Service teachers meet with interested groups to help them learn new skills and create handmade items. By accepting donations of fabric, yarn, and sewing supplies, we are able to upcycle and repurpose sewing supplies while promoting sustainable sewing.

The first Sew4Service Sewing Studio opened in Wickliffe OH in November 2022. Our Sewing Studios provide a space for our community to meet, learn and volunteer to further our mission. We offer classes and free open studio sessions in our studio. To help fund our mission and process the large amount of donations we receive, we opened the first Fabric Stash Store in July 2023, which is a place where people can purchase fabric, yarn, sewing supplies and notions at bargain prices.

In April 2024, The Fabric Stash Store relocated to Euclid OH and became the Euclid Chapter of Sew4Service. The sewing studio joined the store in the Shore Cultural Centre in September 2024, completing the relocation of the Euclid Chapter to join the artistic community in the Shore Cultural Centre. In May 2024, the Alliance Chapter was formed, marking the first expansion of a combined donation location, retail store, and sewing studio to a new location. In April 2025, the Lakewood Chapter expanded to also include a Fabric Stash Store, Sewing Studio, Quilt Top Finishing Center and Sewing Machine Repair and Sales. In November 2025, the Medina Chapter opened in The Common Ground Warehouse amidst boutique shops, a pottery studio, rock climbing, and other vendors.

What began as a community effort to share handmade items has grown into a mission focused on upcycling donated textiles—transforming fabric, yarn, and supplies that might otherwise go to waste into new materials for creative reuse. These materials are sold at affordable prices through The Fabric Stash Store, helping fund Sew4Service’s programs and providing resources for makers. Volunteers and community members then use these upcycled materials to create charity items that are distributed to individuals and organizations in need, combining sustainability, creativity, and compassion in every stitch.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the challenges has been creating processes and policies while trying to keep up with sorting donations, training volunteers, delivering handmade items and teaching classes. We didn’t expect to get as many donations as we regularly receive, and it took time for us to determine where the limits need to be and to create the process to efficiently handle large amounts of donations. We have also had to create all of our handbooks and procedures for our staff and volunteers. When you begin, you just do what needs to be done without writing it all down. But as you grow, this documentation and communication become more important so everyone follows consistent procedures in all our locations.

Another ongoing challenge has been finding technological solutions that are easy for everyone to use and maintain, while being affordable for our small budget. I keep learning new things everyday as I seek new sources of support for nonprofits. It is fun to learn these about web design, SEO, online marketing, and so on, and I am thankful for programs like the Greater Sum Foundation, Tech Soup, Google Ads Grant, Jump Start Entrepreneur Support Program, Greater Alliance Foundation Professional Development, Ohio Tech Cred Scholarship, and Business Volunteers Unlimited. These often free programs help support administrators of non-profits fulfill all the roles needed to support their mission.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As I reflect, I have always had a passion for teaching, science, community service, and the environment. This has led me to become involved with Girl Scouts, both as a girl and as an adult leader, Science Olympiad as an adult coach and event supervisor, and family activities that involved hiking, kayaking and camping. I taught physics, astronomy, math and science as a college lecturer and high school teacher, led an astronomy club, and enjoyed reading science fiction. As my kids moved on, it was time for a transition to something new.

I wanted to focus on sharing my quilting skills with others, through teaching as well as donating them to community agencies. My family members have enough quilts and I needed a new outlet. As I was looking for places to donate my quilts, I became aware of a need for someone to help make these connections and make it easier for others to donate their handmade items. This was the start of Sew4Service. I now spend my time improving and growing Sew4Service, teaching sewing, quilting and crocheting classes, and working with disadvantaged populations to provide access to sewing classes and supplies. And I still read science fiction.

What are your plans for the future?
Sew4Service occupies most of my time. I try to find time to spend in my sewing room, keep up with my two book clubs, spend time in nature, and travel. The next big trip I would like to take is to the Galapagos Islands. Until then, I am planning a driving trip around Lake Superior and a stop at some national parks along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sew4service.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sew4service
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/sew4service
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sew4service
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sew4Service