Little Dresses go a long way!

"Little Dresses for Africa is a non-profit 501c3, Christian based organization which provides relief to the children of  Africa. Simple dresses are made out of pillow cases and distributed through the orphanages, churches and schools in  Africa to plant in the hearts of little girls that they are worthy!

Knowing the history of the girls in Africa and the difficult road that lay ahead, a traveler decided she would take back some dresses to the children in the villages.  A small group of ladies began to sew simple little dresses, made out of pillow cases, to be distributed to young girls through the orphanages in  Africa. This was only the beginning. It continues to grow as groups of all sizes spring up across America.  These groups cross age, gender and denominational lines to serve the most vulnerable of God’s children: little girls.  To date we have received dresses and donations from all 50 states across the USA and received well over 175,000 little dresses, that have been distributed in 26 countries of Africa!  We have also sent dresses to countries in crisis, when requested, such as Honduras, Guatamala, Philippines, Mexico and thousands and thousands to Haiti.  In addition, we have sent dresses to children in need right here in the United States, in the Appalachian Mountains and South Dakota. But more importantly than how many are shipped, are the lives that they have touched. These dresses (and now also britches for boys!) go out as little ambassadors in the name of Jesus, to give hope to the children that receive them.

With Little Dresses for Africa there are many ways to provide help…from starting or hosting your own sewing group, sizing and packing little dresses, or donating financially toward shipping costs, such as boxes, tape, postage. To ensure that they actually get to the children, the majority of our dresses are sent with mission teams here in the United States, as they travel on their missions, for personal distribution.  We are always very much need mission teams to agree to take the little dresses with them to distribute, so if you have a team going, please let us know.  Due to the overwhelming generosity of so many, we can generally send you as many as you are able to take. (Please go to “contact us” for the necessary form). We also mail them internationally and each year we take a team to deliver the little dresses personally, to the grateful and excited little girls that need them so desperately." (excerpt taken from official Little Dresses for Africa website)  www.littledressesforafrica.org/blog

So, last Saturday morning through afternoon I hosted an event to make these dresses.  There were about five of us who worked for five hours, where we made 19 dresses total!  It's really exciting because they are all going to be sent to little girls who need these dresses more than anything in the world.  The fabric we used were donated by a lady from my church who is also apart of a group who is making these dresses as well, and some special guests included one of our models, Zosha!  It was a really fun day filled with country music and home made banana bread.  It also was concluded by a impromptu Glee Live! concert with my younger sister, who also happens to be our photog if you haven't been catching on! I strongly encourage you to look into helping out with this organization in any way you can because 1) its a great cause and 2) its a fashion related charity which makes it even more pleasurable to all us fashion gurus out there!

Xo, Caroline

P.S. Photos props go to Caroline Emily Kidd.  She has a Flickr... you should check it out.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/58577303@N04/