Unexpected Blessings

An unexpected blessing can touch our lives in many ways. 

Sometimes it can be spoken as a word of encouragement,

and sometimes it can arrive in a box!

Several years ago the Sew*Quilt*Share ministry at our church 

learned that girls in many third would countries miss a week of

school each month because they lack access to feminine hygiene products.

By using handmade cloth feminine pads that are both washable and re-usable, 

these girls have the opportunity to continue attending school. 

The reality of their situation is that an education is one of the few hopes 

these girls have to rise above extreme poverty.

Back in August of 2013, a cloth feminine pad tutorial was posted on 

this blog with hopes of easily sharing the pattern with women who sew in my community.

To help spread the word a photo was also posted to Pinterest.

By posting this information on the internet, 

would others in the online community be inspired to sew as well? 

Much to my surprise there have been thousands of hits to that tutorial 

including many questions and comments from readers, but no real evidence of results. 

And then.....it happened!

God began to stir in the hearts of those who sew and "unexpected blessings" began to arrive!

Kathy who blogs at "Household How To" recently sent these lovely pads.
She has been making pads for years and has posted a tutorial
which includes sewings tips you may find helpful.

Great minds must think alike. This package arrived at the church 

on the same day our Sew*Quilt*Share group met to sew pads! 

It was sent by Molly who lives in California!

These colorful pads were sent by Melissa from South Dakota. 

She included a lovely hand written note:)

Brigitte and her "Sit & Sew"group made these lovely pads.

There was much excitement when we noticed the package

 had came all the way from Australia! 

Victoriana from Nevada, and her church sewing class 

sent a total of 200 pads! Thank you for your generosity!

A total of 69 pads arrived from the Smith's in Saint Paul, MN. 

Thank  you!

These beautiful pads were sent to us by Annette in Arkansas.

Don't you just love those rich colors?

This box filled with 167 pads recently arrived from Michigan! 

Enclosed was a letter from seventeen year old Christina, 

who is a member of the American Sewing Guild Greater Detroit Chapter. 

Along with the assistance of her sewing mentor Ilene, Christina 

inspired fellow members of the Taylor Downriver Neighborhood Group 

to sew cloth feminine pads as a service project. Thank you ladies!

Casey from Alabama sent a box of pads which included

this heartfelt inspirational note. Blessings to you Casey!

If you cannot read the note, 

please click on the photo to enlarge it.

Donna and Debbie, a mother and daughter from Pennsylvania 

sent these pads made from a variety of pretty fabrics. 

A box recently arrived from Erie, Colorado with 41 pads made

from beautifully coordinated fabrics. There was no

card enclosed or name on the return address. 

Thank you for your kindness! 

Edith in Louisiana sent these lovely pads. She also

enclosed a heartwarming handwritten note:)

Natalie, who attends college in Michigan, recently sent a box of pads

that she made over Christmas break. I received an email from Natalie in which she said, 

"I was so struck by the fact that these girls have to miss school 

because of a natural bodily function - and that there was a way to help them.

I hope I can make a difference for these girls!"

Once she returned to school, Natalie inspired fellow college students 

along with members of the "Tidings of Comfort" quilt club at College Baptist Church to sew pads. 

This box contained 200 pads! 

Imagine our surprise when less than a week later a second box arrived

from College Baptist Church containing an additional 313 pads! 

Our deepest thanks to all who sent an "unexpected blessing"! 

Would you consider sewing 10 (or more) cloth feminine pads to sponsor a girl?
Your gift of fabric and time will make a significant difference in the life
of a young girl in Haiti. 

Please visit these links to learn more :
Cloth feminine pad tutorial

How Your Sewing Group or Organization Can Help
Pad Palooza!

View pad donations

May you always Sew in Peace!

    

You Can Make a Difference

Did you know girls in many third world countries miss a week of

school each month because they lack access to feminine hygiene products?
 Handmade cloth feminine pads that are both washable and re-usable, 
can provide girls with dignity to continue their education.
A quality education is one of the few hopes these girls have
to rise above extreme poverty.

Since the earthquake of 2010, teams of medical volunteers have been traveling to Haiti
to conduct feminine hygiene education classes at the eight Christian schools
sponsored by Mission Possible. For the past two years, Sew*Quilt*Share
has been partnering with other churches and community organizations to
sew cloth feminine pads that can be assembled into "feminine hygiene kits"
for female students.

Along with basic hygiene information, 

each kit contains:

2 bars of soap, 3 pair of underwear,

100 ibuprofen tablets, 5 safety pins, and 10 cloth feminine pads.

                   

By sharing the procedures our group uses to produce the cloth feminine pads, 

we hope to inspire others to sew for this wonderful cause.

100% cotton flannel is purchased and cut into one yard pieces.

100% cotton batting is purchased, usually by the roll, and cut into 

more manageable 8.5" strips.

Flannel and batting are placed into a gallon size ziploc bag

to form a "kit" that can easily be distributed. This is a great place
to plug in volunteers who lack sewing skills. Several life groups
in our church have met to cut pads as a service project.

The pad pattern is traced onto the flannel fabric and cut out.

The pattern can be found here.

The lining pattern is traced onto the cotton batting and cut.

A total of 20 flannel pieces and 40 cotton batting pieces (enough to make 10 pads) 

are placed back into the ziploc bag, along with a set of instructions. 

This forms a "sewing kit" which can easily be passed onto those
who will sew the pads together. 

 

                                                                                       

Once the pads are sewn together they are packed into boxes 

and passed along with a prayer of blessing.

The boxes travel a few miles away to our friends at 

St. John's Mennonite Church.

Pads from sewing groups like ours, are gathered throughout the year

and then assembled by volunteers into the feminine hygiene kits.

Here are a few of the kits ready for shipment to Haiti. 

Nice job ladies!

Once the feminine hygiene kits arrive in Haiti teams of medical volunteers 

conduct classes to help educate girls about menstrual cycles and proper body care. 

The kits provide girls with information and supplies that will enable them 

to attend school 45 more days each year. 

In 2014, over 5,000 cloth feminine pads were donated for this project. 

The hope is to expand the outreach allowing more girls

to receive a quality education and learn about the love of Jesus.

Please visit these links to learn how You Can Make a Difference!

Cloth Feminine Pad Tutorial
Unexpected Blessings

May you always Sew in Peace!