DANICA SMITHWICK, dsmithwick@jacksonsun.com Published 4:05 p.m. CT April 2, 2016 | Updated 8:26 p.m. CT April 2, 2016
Kim Nolan and Falena Bivins admeasurement bolt to be cut and sewn into dresses for communities in South Africa and Liberia, Saturday during a ‘Little Dresses For Africa’ project.(Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun)Buy Photo
Dozens of Gibson County ladies collaborated at the UT Agricultural Institute in Trenton to sew dresses for African girls Saturday. Associates of the Theta Eta Omega affiliate of Alpha Kappa Alpha recruited volunteers from Gibson County 4-H, the Pea Ridge Book Club and the Extension Family Consumer Science Club.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Abode Inc.’s civic ambition is to aggregate 29,108 bedding dresses to account Little Dresses for Africa, a nonprofit alignment based in Michigan. Theta Eta Omega hopes to accomplish at atomic 100.
“It’s a accurate old ancient bed-making bee,” said Deborah Seward, accident coordinator. “These dresses will go to little girls in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Liberia and added regions.”
(Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun)
In July, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s civic appointment will accommodated in Atlanta, area ladies will apprentice the organization’s admirable absolute dress count. From there, dresses will be alien off and ultimately beatific away through mission teams and absolute organizations.
Seward said Theta Eta Omega has about 50 associates who appear from all walks of activity — teachers, amusing workers, dietitians and more. They assignment calm to accouterment ecology issues, accession acquaintance for brainy affliction and advance concrete health.
Martha David has been a affiliate of the abode for 50 years. She said she absitively she couldn’t sit at home on a Saturday morning alive she could be there helping.
“It’s important that they will accept article from bodies who care,” David said, as she ironed a bedding destined to accouter a adolescent babe she may never meet. “In those balmy climates, the sundresses will be nice to have.”
(Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun)
Melinda Jones, carnality admiral of the abode chapter, said a lot of the abstracts were donated by UT Extension or purchased by the abode sisters. Because pillowcases already accept a hem, alike alpha seamstresses can chase simple patterns.
Across the room, Shaniah Lee, 14, bankrupt and organized bolt based on their colors and analogous patterns. She said best girls her age don’t apperceive how to sew, but she abstruse aftermost year through the 4-H Club.
Lee said while adopting money for alms is valuable, it is nice to be able to accord in a added actual way. According to littledressesforafrica.org, accepting donated accouterment into African villages allows teams to analyze added needs that can be met — from apple-pie baptize to education.
“You never apperceive who ability charge these dresses,” she said.
Reach Danica at (731) 425-9643. Chase her on Twitter: @danicasmithwick
(Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun)
(Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS/The Jackson Sun)
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