Kent Nonprofit Hosts Quilt Sale to Benefit Hunger Agencies

The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent is raising funds through a community quilt showcase and sale.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:53pm

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The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent, a nonprofit organization, is hosting its first Quilted for Community fundraiser on March 21 at the Christ Episcopal Church in Kent, Ohio. The event, which coincides with National Quilt Day, will feature a community showcase and quilt sale, with all proceeds going to local agencies serving food-insecure individuals.

Why it matters

The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent was founded in 2013 by a retired special education teacher who witnessed the impact of food insecurity on her students. The organization has since grown to include 70 volunteers and has donated over $135,000 to Kent Social Services since 2021 to support their hot meal and food pantry programs.

The details

The event will feature 40 quilts for sale, many of which were donated by local quilters. In addition to the quilt sale, the event will include a vintage and antique quilt sale, as well as a tour of the nonprofit's workshop in the church. The organization's products, which include market bags, yoga mat bags, meditation pillows, and kitchen items, are made entirely from donated or secondhand materials.

  • The Quilted for Community fundraiser will take place on March 21, 2026, from noon to 3 p.m.
  • The event coincides with National Quilt Day.

The players

The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent

A nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that uses donated and secondhand materials to create products, with all proceeds going to support local agencies serving the food-insecure.

Mary Ann Kasper

The founder of the Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent, who was previously a special education teacher in Kent and witnessed the impact of food insecurity on her students.

Kent Social Services

A local agency that runs both a hot meal program and a food pantry program, and has received over $135,000 in donations from the Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent since 2021.

Marquice Seward

The manager of Kent Social Services, who has worked with the Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent to support their hot meal and food pantry programs.

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What they’re saying

“I used to be a special education teacher in the city of Kent for 30 years. During those years, I came to understand that for many children, the only food that they had all day was the food that they got at school.”

— Mary Ann Kasper, Founder, Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent

“Kent Social Services runs both a hot meal program and a food pantry program. So, a lot of times, we don't have all the things that we need. So, one thing that their donation really helps support is when we purchase meat or it helps to cover costs when we get food from the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank.”

— Marquice Seward, Manager, Kent Social Services

What’s next

The Quilted for Community fundraiser will take place on March 21, 2026, providing an opportunity for the community to support local agencies battling hunger.

The takeaway

The Socially Responsible Sweatshop of Kent's commitment to using donated and secondhand materials to create products and raise funds for food-insecure individuals demonstrates how a grassroots nonprofit can make a meaningful impact in its local community.