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5,167 Pillowcase Dresses Shipped To Naked Haitian Orphan Girls

5,167 Pillowcase Dresses Shipped To Naked Haitian Orphan Girls

Little girls and infants living in orphanages in Haiti could not go out in public without wearing a dress.  “Threads of Love,” a project started by Jon and Anne Obermeyer, shipped 5,167 dresses made out of pillowcases to naked Haitian orphan girls.

Pillowcase Dresses Shipped To Naked Orphan Girls In Haiti

How To Make A Pillowcase Dress

Pillowcase Dresses Shipped To Naked Orphan Girls In Haiti

Pillowcase Dresses Shipped To Naked Orphan Girls In Haiti

How To Make A Pillowcase Dress

By PRINCESS PEOPLES

            “Threads of Love” project makes thousands of dresses made out of pillowcases for naked Haitian girls living in orphanages.

The number of Haitian orphans has increased tremendously after the January 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake.  There are many issues that orphanages in Haiti are facing, including meeting the basic needs of orphan girls and infants. 

Thousands of little girls living in orphanages in Haiti could not go outside to eat or play nor could they attend school or church without wearing a dress.  The idea was to create dresses made out of pillowcases to ship to orphan girls in Haiti. The idea of making a dress out of a pillowcase came from Beverly Henson, a participant at Helen S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility. 

Henson mentioned her idea to Lila Womack, life enrichment coordinator at Helen S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility.  Womack took Henson’s idea and partnered with the Haiti Care Mission, an independent Christian mission that was started by Jon and Anne Obermeyer.

The Obermeyer’s were inspired to start “Threads of Love” after witnessing little girls standing in doorways or behind walls without clothing during their trips to Haiti.

Womack started leading and coordinating “Threads of Love”, a project organized through the Haiti Care Mission that provides pillowcase dresses, pinless diapers and comfort quilts to orphans and poor children in Haiti.

“The request from orphanages in Haiti was more than 30,000 dresses.  At the time that’s what they needed,” Womack said.

The pillowcase dress challenge

During Mills 3-mile Walk and Health Fair Joan P. Garner, commissioner of Fulton County, challenged Womack and seniors, participants at Helen S. Mills Senior Multipurpose Facility, to make 5,000 dresses.  Womack and Mills seniors took Garner’s challenge and got to work.

The word began to spread about “Threads of Love” around the Atlanta metro area and throughout Georgia.  “So, we put the word out.  We didn’t use social media at all,” Womack said.  “It just took off.  It really took off.  We had people sewing in six other states, just by word of mouth.”

Hundreds of pillowcase dresses were sent to Mills Seniors from Washington, D.C., and six states including Tennessee, California, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky and Arkansas.  Several businesses, organizations, churches and hospitals made donations and volunteered to help “Threads of Love” reach its goal.

Seamstresses Diane Rutan made 170 dresses; Annette Owens made 300 dresses and Amanda Holland made 500 dresses with the help of the “construction crew” that did most of the cutting, ironing and sewing of buttons on the dresses.

“It really was a team effort, we couldn’t have done it without each other,” Holland said.  “As soon as you finished one dress, it was so pretty, you had to start on another, you had to start on the next one.”

A shocking celebration

            Starting in May 2011 and ending on October 1, 2011 “Threads of Love” surpassed its goal by making 5,167 pillowcase dresses.  The seniors said they were all shocked when the total number was announced.

“It was just so rewarding, and when you look at the pictures of the kids, you think one of these kids will be wearing one of my dresses,” Owens said.

Although orphanages in Haiti are still in need and the “Threads of Love” project in Atlanta has ended, many people are still asking about “Threads of Love” and making pillowcase donations to the Haiti Care Mission.

“For me it changed my life,” Womack said.  “So, 5,167 little girls can now move around. So, we didn’t just give them dresses, we changed lives and that’s what was so touching to us.  You can make a difference with just one simple gesture of kindness.  We did it and we are still so very proud of it.”

How To Make Pillowcase Dress

How “Threads of Love” project made thousands of dresses out of pillowcases for naked girls and infants living in orphanages in Haiti. 

First, what are the materials needed to make a pillowcase dress?  The materials needed are one pillowcase, two 6 ½ inch pieces of ½ inch elastic and two 32 inch lengths of 1 ½ inch binding.
Next, how do you make a pillowcase dress?

1. Cut the closed edge of a pillowcase off.  Along the newly cut edge, notch out “j” shaped cutouts, 2 inch and 5 inch down, for the armholes.  To make the two sides identical, fold the fabric in half and cut both sides out at the same time.
2. Along the neckline between the “j” shaped cutouts, fold ¼ inch and iron.  Sew at the bottom to close a ‘sleeve’ for ½ inch elastic and sew a decorative edge seam.
3. Use 6 ½ inch of elastic for front and back neckline.  Sew back and forth four times per end to close channel and secure elastic.  Use a safety pin and pull past sewing foot and cut off excess after sewing.
4. Make binding by cutting a strip of fabric 1 ½ inch wide.  Press the raw edges toward the center, but not touching with an iron.  Fold in half and iron again.
5. Sew 32 inch length of binding around the armholes to finish and create straps.  Pin middle of binding at the bottom of the armhole.  Start at end of binding and fold raw edge inside.  Leave needle in fabric, lift foot, turn, and continue sewing.  Open up binding at elastic to cover fabric and edge of arm hole.  Finish same way as started.
6.  Embellish and don’t forget pockets if you have time.   

Young Female Entrepreneur

Piano Teacher

3/21/12

11 o’clock news

Princess Peoples

Anchor lead-in LIVE:  Peoples Standing in front of Greater Beulah Baptist  Church in Columbus, Georgia VO: Peoples Video of where she used to sing in the choir and play the piano for the choir  Video of Wiggins talking and showing where she used to play piano in sanctuary inside Greater Beulah Baptist Church CS of piano MS of area where she used to play piano LS of sanctuary VOT:  Sonya Wiggins CG:  “Sonya Wiggins” VO:  Peoples Video of Wiggins neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia where she was raised LS of sidewalk before arriving at Wiggins home in Columbus, Georgia MS of Wiggins home in Columbus, Georgia CS of Wiggins home in Columbus, Georgia Video of Wiggins home in Columbus, Georgia VOT:  Sonya Wiggins CG:  “Sonya Wiggins” VO:  Peoples Video of Eckerd’s Drug Store now CVS Video of downtown Atlanta from a rooftop location Video of Georgia State University VOT:  Sonya Wiggins CG:  “Sonya Wiggins” VOT:  Peoples Video of Wiggins apartment complex where she used to put flyers in neighbors mailboxes Video of local Guitar Center where she used to put flyers around Video of a computer with Craigslist open on screen VOT:  Donnel Blackman CG:  “Donnel Blackman” VOT:  Peoples VOT:  Donnel Blackman CG:  “Donnel Blackman” Reporter’s Conclusion Anchor wrap-up

Many people dream of one day owning their own business.  Sonya Wiggins is a rising young female entrepreneur in the Atlanta metro area.  Live with the story is Princess Peoples. Wiggin’s journey began in Columbus, Georgia where she was born and raised.  She started singing in The Angels choir at Greater Beulah Baptist Church when she was 3 years old. ### As she continued to sing in the choir, her mother asked her if she wanted to take piano lessons.  At 9 years old Wiggins started taking group piano lessons.  She started playing the piano for The Angels Choir when she was 11 years old.  As Wiggins continued to play the piano for the choir she vividly remembers an associate pastor who sat in his wheelchair by the piano she used to play.  He would always give her five dollars after she played the piano for the choir every Sunday.  “I realized, hey, I can get paid for this.” ### Wiggins continued to learn how to play the piano by taking private piano lessons starting at 13 years old.  As she continued to learn and strengthen her piano skills, she looked in a local newspaper and found a church that was hiring for a pianist one Sunday a month.  She interviewed with the pastor of the church and got the position.  At 13 years old she was working her first job and an entrepreneur in the making. “I always dreamed of moving to Atlanta.  Once I want to do something, once I get it in my head, then I’m gonna do it.” ### From 13 years old to 18 years old Wiggins worked as a pianist for three different churches and had a part-time job at Eckerd’s Drug Store.  She attended Troy University in Alabama.  But after having an epiphany she decided to transfer to Georgia State University spring 2007.  She wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a recording and performing artist in the Atlanta metro area.  She moved to Atlanta in January of 2007 and transferred to an Eckerd’s Drug Store in Atlanta.  She worked two jobs and was a full-time student.  Wiggins decided she wanted to start her own business.  ### From 19 years old to 20 years old, she worked a total of seven part-time jobs.  She was unhappy. “I’m tired of working; I’m tired of working two jobs and still not having any money.  I want to teach piano lessons.” Wiggins began asking customers at C-V-S Pharmacy if they knew anyone who wanted to take piano lessons.  She put flyers around her apartment complex and around the local Guitar Center.  After doing research online for teaching positions, she found a company in Suwanee and started teaching piano lessons there.  She had four students.  ### Wiggins decided to quit her current job and start her own business.  She created a business plan and started posting ads on Craigslist.  “I saw one of her ads on Craigslist, contacted her and we met at Starbucks.” Wiggins launched Lady Sonya Music Studio, L-L-C in March 2008.  She began hosting two music recitals yearly in 2009.  Donnel Blackman is a previous student of Wiggins who now sings with her. ### “We have known each other for three years now.  We are basically helping one another out.  We are getting together; doing events, weddings, parties and special occasions and trying to book people who are inquiring about a singer and pianist.” Wiggins continues to work hard by using social media to promote her business.  She is currently a senior at Georgia State University.  One of her many goals is to inspire others.  This is Princess Peoples of 11 o’clock news reporting live back to you Carolyn Carlson. ### Wiggins is a rising young female entrepreneur in the Atlanta metro area. She currently has more than 20 students and hosts two music recitals every year. ###