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 holds a Graduate program Certificate in Non-Profit Management.
Lori Donnelly
I am a residential real estate agent serving all of Monmouth and Ocean Counties!! I have a true passion for helping people achieve their homeownership goals!! I hope to help the organization obtain more inventory to serve more recipients.
Jennifer Shea
a stay-at-home mom after a career in the fashion industry for over 30 years. When my professional job ended during Covid, I started volunteering regularly for The Bradley Food Pantry. I was eager to gain a work life again that would give me purpose and flexibility as a mom. I have gained so much more than I ever imagined. I am still very active in the BF Pantry, and I am also on the board of The Hereditary Disease Foundation (27yrs).
I hope to create a direct relationship with The Bradley Food Pantry, as well as tap into CBA’s mission of serving those in need
Sally Turso
I have recently moved to the Toms River area from Scotch Plains, NJ where my husband and I raised our children. I am recently retired and enjoying yoga and other classes and meeting new people at the YMCA. Professionally, I was a Clinical Coordinator at a Medical Technical School for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program. I coordinated and maintained the student clinical internships in various clinical settings, such as Hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers. Maintaining strong relationships with the clinical preceptors was an important element of my job.
My vision to help “Each Stitch Counts” to grow and stay part of the community is to help promote this great cause by getting the word out. Often times, “word of mouth” is more successful that we know. In addition to word of mouth and social media outlets, I would want to brainstorm with the team to find other ways to promote growth.
Amy VanBezooijen
I worked in business and non-profit over the years. I was a volunteer coordinator of a service in our community for ten years. I was responsible for the entire program which involved scheduling, working with Community Medical Center, attending to the needs of the clients, and recruiting and coordinating volunteers. I have been with the current non-profit I represent for eight years, four as its Development Coordinator and four as its Executive Director. I am also by nature a volunteer and have shared my energy, enthusiasm, gifts, and talents in a variety of ways in service to those in need in our area.
The mission of Each Stitch Counts is vital to those who are struggling to make ends meet and provide for themselves and their families. It fills a void in current services, particularly, in pantries. I welcome the opportunity to assist in the growth and long term sustainability of this non-profit as it works to establish itself in the non-profit world, grow its reach and impact, and provide its service to our neighbors in need.