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The Work Done: January 2026

  • Writer: Brice Gaston
    Brice Gaston
  • Feb 1
  • 3 min read

January has been a month of foundations. While the start of a new year can often feel like a slow build, the MTCF community hit the ground running. We’ve spent the last few weeks securing our future as a nonprofit, reaching out to the next generation of makers, and finding new ways to keep good materials out of the landfill.



We Are Officially a 501(c)(3)


We are proud to share that MTCF has been granted official nonprofit status by the IRS. This is more than just paperwork; it is the green light to bring our mission of community, education, and well-being to more men and more neighborhoods. This status allows us to grow our impact and ensure that MTCF remains a stable, long-term resource for our community.



Creative Kits and Community Roots


We’ve been busy putting tools into hands this month:

  • Hamilton Elementary: We launched our first sponsorship with the Hamilton Elementary Crochet Club. Led by Kate Wells, we delivered 15 creative kits to 5th graders and began teaching the fundamentals of the craft. Seeing these kids pick up a hook for the first time reminds us why we do this.

  • Montrose Grace Place: Our partnership with MGP continues to grow. We prepared and delivered 75 crochet and knitting kits to support their individuals this month. We believe that having a creative outlet is a vital part of personal stability and mental health.


Innovation: Project Reclamation


We believe that making things should be good for the soul and the planet. This month, we began "harvesting" yarn from thrift store sweaters, rescuing high-quality fiber from becoming waste.

Did you know? Millions of tons of textiles end up in landfills every year.

By deconstructing and reclaiming this yarn, we are preparing to launch Reclamation, an MTCF yarn line dedicated to sustainability. It’s our way of being good stewards of our resources while providing affordable materials for our makers.



Growth on the Horizon


We are thrilled to announce that MTCF will be represented at three upcoming festivals:

  1. Brazos Valley Fiber Festival (March 13-14)

  2. East Texas Fiber Festival

  3. Houston Fiber Festival

We also had a productive sit-down with Tori from Pathways. We are looking at ways to integrate our operations later this year to better serve our veterans and first responders. Stay tuned for more on that.


Our Shop is Live


We’ve officially launched the MTCF merchandise store. We’ve kept it simple: every item has a modest $5 markup. That $5 goes directly toward putting one creative kit into the hands of a person in our programs. When you wear our gear, you’re literally handing a craft to someone else.


MTC Logo Glossy Mug
From$13.00
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How You Can Help


Our ideas are only as strong as the people who help us carry them out. We are currently looking for dedicated individuals to join our Board of Directors. Specifically, we need:

  • A Board Secretary to help keep us organized and transparent.

  • Marketing & Graphic Design support to help us tell our story more effectively.

  • Volunteers for our ongoing work at Hamilton Elementary and Montrose Grace Place.

If you believe in our mission and have the time or skills to help us grow, please reach out. We need people who are ready to help make these ideas a reality.

 
 
 

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