Volunteers of the Brockport Dress a Girl Around the World Program met recently to pack four suitcases containing 25 items each of home-made pillowcase sundresses in assorted sizes, new underwear for girls and boys, beanie babies, dolls, and children books. Over the past nine years, 800 sundresses and related items have been delivered by local residents/couriers to: Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Tanzania, and most recently to Liberia in June.
In addition to overseas deliveries, home-made pajamas are distributed to boys and girls during cold weather in the greater Rochester area. Local and regional Domestic Violence Centers (Willow in Rochester and Pathstone in Albion) have been beneficiaries. In addition, Catholic Charities and Saint’s Place (Rochester) have received suitcases of dresses and pajamas. In 2015, Brockport resident Andrea Perry organized the first local “Dresses” program at the Sweden Senior Center, where dedicated participants cut patterns, sewed dresses of new or gently used pillowcases, and made kits to sew at home. The program is part of the Sweden Senior Association, Inc. (SSAI) and is affiliated with the 501(c)3 organization, Hope 4 Women International. Dress a Girl Around the World’s mission is to bring dignity to young women – one dress at a time.
On August 17 at 10 a.m., the Brockport Dress a Girl Program will be putting together pajama kits at the Sweden-Clarkson Recreation Center, 4927 Lake Road South, Brockport. Volunteers are welcome to assist; no sewing skills required.
Contact Andrea Perry, 585-637-5648, for more information.
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