About Us
How it Began
Each Stitch Counts began with the founder’s love of knitting dishcloths. Cotton dishcloths serve many purposes in the home. They can be used to clean almost any surface, are washable and reusable. The natural progression was to add them to bottles of dish detergent to be given away. Research and contacts with local food pantries found that they needed these cleaning products and that no one was donating them. The regional food banks such as Fulfill does not provide these products. In 2021, the founder began to package a dishcloth with a bottle of dish detergent and bringing them to several local food pantries. It quickly became apparent that the need was greater than one person could supply. A Facebook group was founded which now has more than 1500 members in the U.S. and around the world. The members supply the handmade dishcloths or package and donate them in their own areas.
Debbie Trainor-Founder & President
Debbie Trainor is the Founder and President of Each Stitch Counts. Her love of knitting is seen in the dishcloth patterns that she designs. Her background as a school administrator in charge of the finances enables her to keep the records of the organization. She is currently enrolled in a Graduate program studying Non-Profit Management.
Board Member-Kathy Brancato
I own a payroll consulting business that started when I retired in 2019 after working twenty-six years in the Central Office of a school district in Bergen County. Kathy holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Centenary College and has her standard business administrator’s certification. Debbie taught her to knit while they were still working, but in retirement Kathy was determined to learn how to crochet and took lessons in the first few months of retirement and hasn’t looked back since. She lives in Hawthorne with her husband, Michael, and their feline fur baby, Socks.
Board Member-Mary Dredge
By day, I am a Project Manager for a local financial company. I also run a handmade product business supporting sustainability and kindness. I love making herbal remedies and tea and can’t wait for the garden to fill in with herbs. I am always looking for ways to reform the status quo and offer support to those who need it. I am excited to see where this journey takes us!