Category Archives: General
The Journey to Haiti begins
I want to document the process of developing a project in a new area. This seems like the perfect time and example. More than anything, I want to share with anyone reading this the incredible connections that happen in this project. Sometimes it takes my breath away and I hope you are moved as well.
When the earthquake rocked Haiti just a few short weeks ago, the entire world turned its eyes to that desperate area. We watch, sometimes, not knowing what to do and just groping for a way to help. Our board immediately began discussing how we could help and when it might be appropriate. I sent out messages into the world, extending a hand and waiting to feel a hand grasp mine in return. One of the messages I sent was to USAID, letting them know what we have to offer and that we want to be involved. I heard nothing for awhile and began to wonder if that was the wrong path…but soon the answer came. The phone rang on a particularly busy morning and I almost didn’t answer it. But I did and I heard a Haitian voice, a woman named Rose, representing Family Outreach International, a group based in Atlanta, that was on the ground floor helping in Haiti. USAID had connected us and the journey began.
Rose and I discussed our own paths and immediately knew that we were heading in the same direction. She mentioned that she was working on creating a relief shipment that would leave the US in Mid-March. I assumed that it was too early to send machines but she assured me it wasn’t–there are over 70 women–sewists–who have been relocated to a village outside of Port au Prince and would love to begin sewing…first creating clothing for the orphans and eventually, creating items to sell and make a living. I asked which port they were using and I was told New Orleans….just so happens we already have a shipment scheduled to go to New Orleans in early March.
At the same time I was developing this new partnership with Rose and her group, I was also communicating with our new, generous collection site in Baton Rouge, AllBrands. John, the owner, has dedicated 80 new machines to include in our shipment to Haiti. Additionally, and this is pretty exciting, he is working on getting some of the abandoned FEMA trailers in Louisiana, outfitted with generators, to use as “sewing cottages” to ship to Haiti. His generosity overwhelms me.
And finally, I sent out a newsletter late last week detailing our Haiti effort and the response has been incredible. Sewing groups are organizing sewing days to stitch up little clothes for the hundreds of orphans that Family Outreach International serves. Everyone is scrambling to add their donations and help in any way they can. We’ll include these donations in our shipment in March.
My sister once sent me a card that said “Leap and the bridge will appear” and I believe that is right. When the path is right, the doors open and the way becomes clear.
Thank you to everyone who is helping us on this journey.
DONATIONS FOR HAITI
We are receiving many emails asking how and when The Sewing Machine Project will be involved in helping Haiti. The Sewing Machine Project will be there. We are already beginning to make plans to ship machines and supplies and offer help when their communities begin to mend.
Please click on this link for more information.
Our Hearts Go Out To Haiti
It is with awe and disbelief that we watch the events unfold following last week’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. Stories emerge every minute, it seems–stories of suffering, cries for help…troubling stories of aid shipments caught up and unable to reach their destination. Among these stories emerge small stories of hope as well. Stories of loved ones found, of people reaching beyond themselves to help others.
The Sewing Machine Project is committed to helping those in need, those who are pressed to rebuild their communities. At this point, the first priority in Haiti is to meet the urgent needs of those who are hurt, hungry and homeless. The road to rebuilding will be long and I see our project as providing help during the rebuilding phase which will follow this first desperate time. When the time is right, we will offer our helping hands as well, with sewing machines to help people mend their lives and communities.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush co-authored an inspiring article in the Sunday NY Times, offering a call to action for this troubled region. The final paragraphs read:
Crises have the power to bring out the best in people, and we have seen many examples of this over the years, especially after the tsunami. Conflict in Aceh, Indonesia, was laid to rest while people focused on rebuilding together. In communities along the Indian coast, women who had lost their husbands learned marketable skills like arts and crafts and emerged better able to provide for themselves and their children than they were before the disaster.
We should never forget the damage done and the lives lost, but we have a chance to do things better than we once did; be a better neighbor than we once were; and help the Haitian people realize their dream for a stronger, more secure nation. But we need more than just support from governments–we need the innovation and resources of businesses; the skills and the knowledge of nongovernmental organizations, including faith-based groups; and the generosity and support of individuals to fill in the gaps.
We can help, all of us.
Our warehouse runneth over!!
Believe me, I’m not complaining! We have been blessed with lots and lots of fabric and pattern donations…so much so that we need to hold off for awhile. If you were thinking about donating some fabric or patterns to the Sewing Machine Project, bless you! But please hold off until further notice. We have more than we can possibly distribute right now.
Once we empty the warehouse in spring 2010 we’ll begin collecting fabric again.
Thank you, thank you for your generosity and your kindness!
Need a great Christmas gift idea?
Are you pondering what to get that sewist in your life who has everything?
Why not make a donation to The Sewing Machine Project in her name? Just think about it…your donation would:
- help spread the joy of sewing to others;
- help develop a cause with help and creativity as its goal;
- offer joy to your sewist, giving the knowledge that their gift had helped another.
When making a donation in someone’s name, please consider sending an email or comment through our website giving some details about the gift recipient’s love of sewing…we’ll publish it here on the site.
So why not? Just click the Donate button and follow the easy instructions. Your gift will bring joy to “sew” many!
Can you believe it’s December?
Can you believe it’s December already? I feel like Santa has already visited when I look at the 25 new Bernette machines here in my house. The machines arrived a few weeks back from Bernina and last week a team of wonderful women volunteered to check them all out with me. The whole set passed with flying colors! These machines are little gems! So now they’re checked and labeled and ready for their next step…our new lending library!
We’re getting closer to a real name for it…promise!
Considering this whole lending library project is like digging deeper and deeper…we keep asking new logistical questions. But it’s coming along just fine and we’ll launch it in the spring. Everyday there are new developments.
I’ll keep you posted.
Our New New Orleans Connection!
We had a kind email the other day from All Brands in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They will be our “go to” group for that area. All Brands will serve as our newest collection site and will also help us out with machine troubleshooting when we’re there, doing our distributions.
Thank you so much to All Brands and to all of the kind dealerships which have stepped forward and offered to help with The Sewing Machine Project. We couldn’t do it without you!
AllBrands.com
20415 Highland Rd
Baton Rouge, La. 70817
Phone 225 383 9750
Fax 225 344 2052
Sew News Magazine
Be sure to check out Sew News’ December’09/January ’10 issue.
There we are on page 10!
How wonderful to have this kind exposure!
So Much Need
Each time I open The Sewing Machine Project email account there is such a variety of correspondence. There are new signups for our email newsletter (I’m working on one…you’ll see it soon!), kind notes, encouraging us to keep up the good work, questions about donating machines, and always, requests for machines. Each request is accompanied by a story and each one speaks to my heart.
We are working on developing a simple application for machines, because there are just so many requests. There are requests from individuals who are facing hard times and requests from groups in every corner of the world, explaining how a few machines could make the difference between survival and starvation.
I would love to send a machine to every single person and group who asks. I would love to meet you all and hand you this machine and some supplies in person. I want you to know that you are all important to me and to this organization.
And if you are reading this post and you have a machine and are happily, comfortably sewing, please consider sending a financial donation to The Sewing Machine Project. It’s easy to do–just click on the Donate link and it’ll guide you right through the process. Or you can click on the Giving tab and learn how to send a donation through the mail.
We continue to receive donated machines and for that we are so grateful…but we need the financial contributions as well. These are hard times for everyone and machine storage and transportation costs money. Without the financial donations, we cannot get these machines to the people who need them. Plain and simple.
Thank you to everyone who writes, who cares, who helps to make this project a reality. No matter who you are, you matter to us.
Margaret
Thank you, Bernina!
We are anxiously anticipating the arrival of 25 new Bernette machines from Bernina! The sewing machines are being donated to jump start our “lending library” initiative. The lending library will offer machines, on loan, to area groups who need them for short term projects.
As of now, the machines are being prepared for their sea voyage. Thank you, Bernina! And thank you to all of you, who continue to believe that little ideas lead to big change in peoples’ lives.
These Bernettes are about to embark on a voyage to the US!
