Stitch in time
Displaying some of the dresses they’ve made for children in Haiti are, from left, Denise Douglas of Eighty Four, Margaret Welch and Anna Mae Myers, both of Washington, and Joan Bish of Cecil.
Denise Douglas of Eighty Four holds up a dress the local women made for a young girl during one of her mission trips to Haiti.
Michlanda, a youngster in Haiti sponsored by Joan Bish of Cecil, is all smiles after receiving a dress.
A young boy models the elasticized-waist shorts the local women made.
Children’s clothing in Haiti is so limited for some families that siblings often have just one outfit to share.
Haitian families check out the new clothing sewn by a group of local women in conjunction with First United Presbyterian Church in Houston.
A small group of women, drawn together by their sewing abilities and desire to help others, are making a difference in the lives of Haitian children.
For three years, five women have been sewing simple dresses and shorts for boys and girls who, on most days, otherwise would have nothing to wear but their underwear.
Joan Bish of Cecil and Anna Mae Myers and Margaret Welch, both of Washington, teamed up to sew the clothing through First United Presbyterian Church in Houston. Also participating are Bonnie Lusher and Kathy Miller, both of Washington, who quickly joined after learning about the sewing project.
Bish came up with the idea to provide clothing for girls in Africa after seeing a sundress pattern. She suggested it to the church deacons, and soon, the willing hands of Myers and Welch were added.
The women have sewn dozens of sleeveless dresses and elasticized waist shorts for boys. The clothing is delivered to Haiti by Friends of Haiti of McMurray, which has been supporting the LaCroix New Testament Mission since 1998.
Among those who have taken the clothes to Haiti is Denise Douglas of Eighty Four, who has participated in numerous mission trips to the island country since 1999.
Douglas, a retired teacher, provides medical sessions on various topics, such as the importance of washing hands or brushing teeth, and uses the opportunity to distribute the clothing to the children. She is rewarded by their smiling faces.
“This is such a wonderful blessing for these kids,” Douglas said, explaining that children’s clothing in Haiti is so limited for some families that the children often have just one outfit to share. For example, a girl will wear the clothing one day, while her sisters are dressed just in their underpants.
For Welch, who studied home economics for four years and has been sewing all her life, the sewing project was simply “something to do.” That something has translated into nearly 100 dresses she has sewn.
A petite woman, Myers learned to sew at an early age because most of her clothes had to be altered to fit.
It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to sew a dress, Bish said. About 11/4 yards of fabric is needed per dress.
For Christmas and birthdays, Bish asks for gift cards to local craft or sewing shops so she can purchase fabric to donate to the project.
In addition, five years ago, Bish assembled 171 shoeboxes for children through the Operation Christmas Child program. She remains on the lookout for items to fill shoeboxes as well, and joked that her husband says there is no need for insulation in their attic because she has accumulated so many items for charity.
“It’s just something I feel like I need to do,” she said. “It’s my way of giving back.”
Friends of Haiti also has partnered with Pastor Vaugelas Pierre of the LaCroix mission, which provides schooling for 3,500 children. Those who attend classes are given a hot meal and a uniform to wear, and they receive medical treatment. The deacons at First United Presbyterian in Houston sponsor a child to attend school at the mission.