Northport Trinity Church’s Rag Bee members recycle discarded clothing into rugs
By Linda Engelhard
Sun contributor
As we travel across this country, we pass giant mounds of landfill—unpleasant evidence of how much we throw away. A group of dedicated neighbors in Northport have been trying for approximately 50 years to reverse that trend by recycling unwanted clothing into rugs. On Tuesday mornings, the members of Rag Bee gather around a table at Trinity Church to accomplish their mission.
The rug making process involves multiple steps. First, the fabric is flattened and items like buttons and zippers are removed. Next, someone uses a simple device to cut the fabric into strips about one and a half inches wide. Down the assembly line, members of the group stitch the strips together by color scheme and wind them around to create rag balls. Some fiber artists work with yarn or thread, but the Rag Bee members work with fabric strips in their laps and stitch the ends to increase the size of each ball. Finally, the colorful balls of fabric strips are passed on to Lori Vargo, a fourth-generation weaver with multiple looms. Even the scraps and attachments like buttons and zippers are recycled. They are bundled and sent to Goodwill where a rag vendor picks them up and distributes them for other uses like shredded material for stuffing.
The first Rag Bee was started at Trinity Church in the 1970s by René Milliken and other church members and friends. As time passed, René took on a leadership role and inspired the group by her steadfast dedication to the work. At age 97, she moved to the Northport Highlands and continued cutting fabric in a room that she called her office, the legendary room where she went to work each day. René lived to be 101 and passed on her legacy to a group that now includes Audrey DeVault, Sue Bogue, Linda VanEmst, Rita Billers, Ed Lefson, Sandy Brown, Lauren Thomas-Kincaid, and Tony Kincaid who offers tremendous help setting up the tent at the Northport Farmers Market during the summer.
Homeowners often purchase rag rugs from online retailers, but Rag Bee rugs are in a different category, produced locally and created to help the community. This year, Rag Bee has earned $1,338.98 as of late October. Half of the proceeds are given to Trinity’s Good Samaritan Fund for the pastor to distribute, and half are sent to Leelanau Christian Neighbors, the practice for many years. The cost of the rugs is based on size and usually ranges from $25 to $60. The group also takes special orders from buyers who want particular colors or sizes as gifts or for their homes.
The next opportunity to purchase rugs is during the Women’s Club bake sale at Trinity Church on December 6 or by calling Trinity Church at (231) 386-5801. Rag Bee rugs are crafted around a table in a spirit of preservation and fellowship, usually ending with a brown bag lunch. The group shares news and concerns and often listens to Ed Lefson read his inspiring poetry. Any rug can cover a floor, but Rag Bee rugs are a labor of love, made with a commitment to serving the community.
