Phase #2 — Christian Life Ministries

Hi everyone! I want to introduce you to Christian Life Ministries (CLM), the organization we are partnering with for this summer's dress drop-off in Uganda.

I asked Jana Kitts, a powerhouse girl and friend who is doing alot for Uganda behind the scenes at CLM, to answer a few questions for us.

Me: Tell us a little about CLM.
Jana: Christian Life Ministries has two orphanages in Kampala, Uganda serving a near 1,000 orphans. They live in two villages, one in Seeta and one in Lira. Our villages are set up a little differently as the children live in a home with a house mom. We care for the whole child through providing meals, clothing, shelter, education, medical treatment and spiritual upbringing. 



Me: Why did you decide to partner with The Pillowcase Project?
Jana: We decided to partner with The Pillowcase Project because we wanted to do something different for our children aside from bringing them used clothes or even new clothes. We wanted them to have something made especially with them in mind. What a great way to minister to these children!

Me: How do you think these dresses will make an impact?
Jana: I think that it will give them self-confidence & hope as well as show them just how much they are loved.

Me: What do you want to tell the people who are sewing dresses here?
Jana: You have no idea what an impact these dresses will make on our girls lives or just how much they will be appreciated. When these kids are given something they cherish it far more than you or I can even imagine. They carry around the most mundane of gifts just because it was something that they were given and that they own. It is theirs and they cherish it. They will be so excited to own something that is theirs and theirs alone! They will be proud to tell someone that some Mzungu made their dress.

Me: Anything else? :)
Jana: What else? Glad you asked! We want 5 people to join us this summer to help us deliver the dresses!! The Summer 2011 Trip is from July 17-August 1 (you will leave the United States on July 17th, arriving to Uganda on July 18th and serve through July 31st, arriving back to the United States on August 1st). Cost is $1,500.00 per/person plus airfare. This covers all expenses on the field (food, lodging, ground transportation, outings, and special events), insurance, and pre- and post-trip support and guidance. We would love for YOU to join us in blessing these children with new dresses!

Check out their website at: http://www.christianlifeministries.org/

And happy sewing!

Hello Blog Friends!

Yikes, this update is LONG overdue.

Chalk it up to fundraisers, traveling, and overall neglect. Thanks for sticking around!

So here's some items to talk about...
1. We brought the first group of dresses to Uganda in August. The girls were more than thrilled to receive their new dresses. I wish I could communicate the utter joy and gratitude they communicated to me. However, in Uganda, sometimes a smile speaks more than any words I could gather.

2. The doors are just beginning to open in some places. So keep sewing, keep sending dresses. Your support is invaluable!

I promise, with a big smile and nodding head, I will blog more soon. I need a few weeks post-Uganda to breathe and absorb, process and meditate on everything.

And then, I promise, I will write. 

Upcoming Stuff

Some updates!

1. Our next DFW-local sewing night is July 16. Click here for more details (you need a Facebook account to see this). We need all the help we can get. There are still alot of pillowcases that need to be dresses!

2. Our first fundraiser is Thursday, August 5 @ 7 p.m. at the beautiful Paradise Cove on Grapevine Lake in Texas. Free admission! Come support The Pillowcase Project. To sponsor clothes for boys and girls in Uganda, click here. Sponsor a girl's dress for $15, a boy's t-shirt for $15, or both for $25. With this sponsorship, you can include a note to go with the items. The money will go to The Pillowcase Project.

3. The first group of dresses will go on August 16 with our team. Our goal is to have 700 dresses by then, so if you're sewing, send us what you've got! Mail all the dresses to:
CTCC
attn: Andrea Schmid
2525 Florence Rd.
Roanoke, TX 76262



Thank you so much for your continued support!

You Asked, It's Coming!

We've been receiving lots of requests for a PDF version of the pattern. We think it's a great idea too! Please check back here soon for a link to download the file. Thank you so much for sewing and helping clothe the kids of Uganda!

Get to know the faces.

Hey everyone! Check out some footage from the trip we took to Uganda last year. These are the kids who will benefit from Project 1 in Uganda. One of the guys on our team put this video together (thanks Barrett!) ...

Uganda 09 from Barrett Snare on Vimeo.

Monday Mentions

Here's a growing list of people and businesses who are supporting The Pillowcase Project by sewing, donation drives, and other unique ways. If you'd like to be added to our Monday Mentions list, e-mail me at thepillowcaseproject (at) gmail (dot) com with..

• your name
• your business (if necessary)
• website link

Check out the people and businesses who are supporting us!

Tacony & Babylock Sewing Machines
Cross Timbers Community Church, Argyle, Denton & Keller TX
Pam Ward and the midwives at Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX
CT Women at Cross Timbers Community Church
Paychex, Dallas Branch taking donations for the month of June
Sharman's Sewing Centers in Longview & Tyler, Texas
"Love Africa Week" at Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

... and more to post soon!

Exciting News!

Look at me! I'm so happy!

Want to know why?

Today, I get to make the announcement that Babylock, the manufacturer of sewing, embroidery, quilting and serging machines, is partnering with The Pillowcase Project to help us meet our goal.

They're not only encouraging people like you to come and have fun sewing, but they have also offered that for every person who "likes" their Facebook page and also anyone who "likes" our page, they will donate one pillowcase. This is huge! If we spread the word and get people "liking", we could have all the pillowcases we'll need for this phase, and the next one! This promotion is lasting until July 31.

Please spread the word and go get your "like" on!

Babylock Facebook Page

The Pillowcase Project Facebook Page