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U.S. Ambassadors
Carol:
Tucson, Arizona
dressagirltucson@gmail.com
My mom taught me to sew as a child, and I made most of my clothes until I became a nurse, wife and mother of 4 handsome boys - my "mighty men." My sewing was limited to curtains, attaching Boy Scout Merit badges, Halloween costumes, and pajamas! I now have the joy of sewing with eyelet, lace and girly pink fabrics, and exploring the clearance racks for cute t-shirts in the girl's department! I am so excited to know that something so fun can bless little girls. Besides sewing, I also love to swim, garden and scrapbook.
Patti:
Scottsdale, Arizona
dagscottsdale@gmail.com
My name is Patti Council and I live in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born and raised in Paducah, Kentucky, my husband (Nathan) and I, along with my daughter, Kayla, moved to Arizona in 1998. Nat and I were both raised in a church (where his father was the pastor) that taught us what the Bible says about our responsibility to loving, praying for and supporting mission work all over the world. In our early years of marriage, we made numerous short-term mission trips to remote villages in Central America which is where my passion for working with DAG started. My mother was a seamstress and taught me to sew at an early age. My 'real' job is owning a store that sells beautiful evening gowns to prom and pageant girls. It was actually one of my pageant girls that introduced me to DAG. When girls come into my store and find the perfect evening gown for their next pageant, I see the excitement on their faces! Since becoming involved with DAG, I like to think of each of the girls that receives one of our handmade dresses will have even more excitement when a volunteer gives her the dress that was made especially for her. I'm honored to be a part of this organization and want to be a good steward with the gifts God has blessed us with. When not working at my store or volunteering with DAG, I enjoy spending time with my husband, daughter and her husband, 20 month old granddaughter and we now have a baby girl on the way. Truly Blessed.
Lin
Sedona, Arizona
DAGsedona@gmail.com
Sedona, Arizona, home since 2002, runs on volunteerism providing every service you can think of. I’ve done trail maintenance, hiking trail patrol, fire patrol, docenting at Palatki Heritage Site and helping with the Native Plant Workshop. Can you tell I lean toward physical activity? After decades of brainwork in business and industry, when I retired after turning 70, I wanted to do something simple that didn’t involve committee meetings or scheduling. Though I hadn’t sewn in forty years, in July 2019, I searched online for “sewing charity,” thinking it might match my waning energy and complaining knees! I downloaded the measurements and armhole patterns from Dress a Girl Around the World and started sewing. I made mistakes, poked myself with pins and bled onto fabrics that had to be rewashed, sewed the fronts of dresses to the backs, cut out armholes from the bottoms of dresses and many other creative mistakes; I’ve made them all! Still, fabric donations poured in and six months later, people began coming forward to help. Monthly we get together to cut fabric, match pockets, measure elastic, add a label and call it a “kit.” We double-check garment quality for anything that might ravel or break, sort sizes, bundle by tens and box dresses, waiting for a request from someone traveling to a poverty-stricken area or someone with a foreign contact who can hand-deliver dresses. We have a volunteer who delivers kits to those sewing only at home and picks up finished dresses. We make it as easy as possible, so please join us!
DAG Group
Phoenix , Arizona
Dagphoenix@gmail.com
Theresa H: I was volunteering at an elementary school and sewing skirts for the nurse’s closet when one of the teachers sent me a FaceBook posting from the DAG Phoenix chapter. I attended my first meeting in March of 2019, made my first dress, and have been hooked on sewing DAG dresses ever since. Jolene S: A friend showed dresses she had made for DAG on facebook. I had been looking for a place to share my sewing talents so contacted her. Went to my first meeting and have been a regular since. It is so fun to create dresses and see what other creative things women have done. Peggy P. I love to sew but I don’t make my own clothes anymore. Dress A Girl lets me do what I love to do with some sweet girl in mind and lets me serve a greater need. I have enjoyed my association with this organization and have loved getting to know the women and men in the group. Cheryl K. I started sewing again a couple of years ago. I’ve found many of my projects and patterns on YouTube. That’s how I found out about DAG! I’ve loved making the dresses and knowing I’m dressing a girl in need is so wonderful. I’ve started going to the Phoenix chapter meetings and it has been fun and rewarding to meet and serve in this way too. Linda G. I heard about DAG from a friend at our church sewing group. I love to sew and have no one to share my love for sewing for so why not help out some sweet girls who need dresses. It’s fun and creative and a good time to share. Ellen K :Have been sewing since a small child at my Grandmother’s knee. After marrying I only had sons so missed being able to sew sweet little girl dresses. Adopted daughters so could sew dresses again. Once they grew up missed that. I met Marj at a JoAnn’s and she told me about DAG. I was hooked, a way to make dresses and bless lots of little girls. Have seen DAG go from the warehouse in Tempe, to Rachel’s house near Anthem to CCOJ which is now Dream City Church. Have been on a missions trip and blessed to be able to dress little girls with the fruits of all our labor. So glad to be able to be apart of a group that continues to bless little girls all over the world. One very special aspect of our dresses is that we label them right on the front showing predators that someone is watching over these sweet precious lives. Pam C - I first heard about DAG from a friend in a Prescott Club. She gave me some instructions and a few pieces of fabric and I was hooked from the first dress. I spend my summers in Flagstaff where I was fortunate to meet Carol L and she got me connected with the Phoenix group. I made 16 dresses this summer and now plan on starting more!!! Cheryl J. : I went to my first Dress A Girl Serve Day at Rachel’s. The entire Dress A Girl had been group so gracious in donating dresses for our Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts throughout the years. I enjoy their serve day as a way to fellowship and help out in a small way with these dresses that go to precious girls around the world. Carol L. : Three years ago my daughter was visiting and she asked me if I wanted to go to a DAG meeting that she saw advertised in the newspaper. My daughter is a seamstress and belongs to a charity Sewing Klatch in her church. I love to sew and had been looking for an opportunity to use my skills for a worthy cause. DAG was a perfect fit. Not only has DAG enriched my life but I have enabled neighbors to donate supplies, making them feel a part of a worthy cause. I also got my sewing group in Flagstaff involved and many of the ladies make dresses at home. They bring the dresses to me and I deliver them to our group in Phoenix. We provide all the fabric and supplies etc. We have donated over 295 dresses these past 3 years.
Donna
Arkansas
whiteracing2005@yahoo.com
I learned to sew by sewing doll clothes as a child. I learned to make more complicated items in a high school home economics class. After being married and having children, I learned to make children’s clothes. I learned about Dress a Girl from my adult daughter when she told me about a missionary who took the dresses to the mission field. The Lord blessed me with a very nice sewing machine that could quilt, embroider, and do just about everything I could think of, and I began to look for ways to use my sewing machine to bless others. I have been amazed at how many ways you can use a sewing machine to help others. After retiring as a nurse in 2018, I found I had more time to use the sewing machine for projects to help people. Dress a Girl is such an important project to change lives for the better! I look forward to helping as many girls as I can. My two favorite hobbies are sewing and camping. The most fun is taking a sewing machine camping!
Suzanne
SF Bay Area, California
suzbeck@yahoo.com
www.dressagirlsfbayarea.com
After 32 years of marriage, my life took an unexpected turn when my husband asked for a divorce. The next months were extremely difficult, but God was with me every step of the way, guiding and guarding. In fact, one morning in my devotions early in the process, the prayer in my devotional was this: "Holy Spirit, you know how much I hate change. Please help me to embrace this new life that you are offering me." I was stunned that this was part of God's plan, but that knowledge was certainly sustaining in the months to come. One evening, several months later I was sitting alone in my tiny new house, praying and contemplating all the changes that had occurred and really in awe of God’s goodness to me and helping me to ‘embrace this new life that he had offered me.’ But it occurred to me that my focus had been totally on myself over those several months. Now, it was time to start thinking about a new way to minister to other people. So I started praying that evening, specifically asking God for a new area of ministry; and I added…"oh, and, by the way, if it could be something CREATIVE, that would be SO cool!" A few of weeks later, I stumbled across the DAG website and within a few minutes literally burst into tears, knowing that this was a DIRECT answer to prayer. I gathered a few friends and we had our first Sew-Fest in May, 2011. Now we have over 300 women involved and have made over 10,000 dresses. I'm convinced that God gives us gifts and then when we use them for His good and His glory, he doubles the blessings and we get so much joy in simply USING those gifts! Addendum: In an additional amazing gift from God, I reconnected with a crush from grade-school and we've now been married almost 6 years! Isn't God simply FULL of surprises??!
Diana
Southbay, California
sewgenerosity@gmail.com
My name is Diana Calhoun and with my husband, Don we live in Redondo Beach, CA. After retirement from a career in Investment Management, a girlfriend encouraged me to learn to quilt, and thus began my love of sewing. I was introduced to Dress a Girl in 2015 through a Bible study group that was looking for a service project, and then when our church was planning its annual service weekend, my pastor asked if I would take the lead in organizing a Dress A Girl sewing group. In 2017, I traveled to Uganda on a mission trip delivering new dresses and observing first-hand the joy that a new dress brings to these little girls. This ministry has now delivered over 700 dresses directly to missions in Uganda, Mexico and Guatemala in addition to various other nations through Operation Christmas Child. Recently, I read a book called “The Externally Focused Church” by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson, which God used to call me to greater service for Him. I am excited about using the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with for His Kingdom and serving “the least of these” in His name.
Sharon
Northern/Sacramento, California
mmiranda627@gmail.com
I've never been this aggressive before about anything. The Lord has opened so many doors that I know this is what I am meant to do. Thank you for inviting me. I look forward to doing the best job I can. Sharon has been with Dress a Girl since August 2010. In that time, the Northern CA area has sent out more than 34,000 dresses to more than 42 countries. "This is my passion in life. Serving the Lord in this way is such a blessing. After seeing thousands of dresses, I never stop saying "so CUTE!" They bless the one who makes it, the one who takes it, & of course the girl who receives it!" We've helped make & distribute hundreds of dresses to Haiti, Cambodia & Kenya.
Charlotte and Claudia
Fresno, California
dressagirlfresno@gmail.com
affordableoriginals@comcast.net
We are Charlotte and Claudia and are super excited to be a part of Dress A Girl Around the World. We launched in 2014 in Fresno, CA under the amazing guidance of our sister in Christ, Barbara in Santa Cruz. Since that time our group has continued to grow and we have been blessed to be a part of planting or mentoring three other active groups in our area. We love Dress A Girl for the hope and joy it brings these beautiful girls in other countries and for the indescribable blessing it brings to each of us who has a hand in creating these special gifts. You can be an accomplished seamstress, a novice or a non-sewer to help, so please come and join us so you can be a part of this wonderful ministry and be a carrier of something special created in His name for those He calls His children.
Barbara
Santa Cruz, California
bestluv2u@aol.com
My personal passion is to do what I can to ease the suffering of oppressed people and those living in poverty. I’ve spent a lot of time studying about poverty, praying about poverty, reading books about poverty, and doing whatever I can to help those in poverty---particularly through short-term missions and child sponsorship. When I discovered Dress a Girl Around the World, I realized how perfectly this ministry fit into the person I believe God created me to be. I have been involved in many, many ministries in my life but I have never walked through SO many open doors---ever! It is such a privilege to serve in this capacity. I love how this ministry gives people of all ages unity of purpose. It has also fortified my marriage. My husband, Steven, is a Gideon Bible distributor. This has been a marriage of our ministries as well---we have been putting little New Testaments in the pockets of our dresses to send to the countries where they are allowed. I love how this addresses both physical AND spiritual poverty. Our home church is very aggressive about world missions. We have sent dresses to Zambia, South Africa, and Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, Navajo Nation, India, Tanzania, Grand Bahama Island, Nicaragua, and Ecuador as well as serving the needy in our community. I love a quote from Wess Stafford, CEO of Compassion, International. In his book titled “Just a Minute”, he points out that in the heart of a child, ONE moment can last forever. “From the stories of others I have become convinced that if God stands a child before you, for even just a minute, it is a divine appointment. You have the chance to launch a life. You never know when you are making a memory.” At Dress a Girl Around the World Santa Cruz we make our dresses “one at a time”. We want to send the message that each dress is made with extravagant love and care and is as unique as the child who will ultimately own it.
Pamela
Arroyo Grande, California
dressagirlagca@gmail.com
My name is Pamela Glenn and I live Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast of California. My mom taught me to hand sew for my dolls when I was 5 years old. As I got older I made my own clothes and sewed for my home and my children. About 2 years ago I discovered that I like quilting! Our church was introduced to Dress A Girl when a new pastor and his wife came on board. This ministry has really captured my heart as well as many others in the church. At our first meeting, we completed over 100 dresses, some of which had been donated by another church in varying stages of completion. As I helped organize that day I realized that this was another “God” moment in my life - I had recently prayed the prayer of Jabez to “enlarge my territory,” so when I was asked to become the coordinator of the group, I said yes. We currently meet quarterly, but that may change as our ministry expands. As I write this I have gotten word that several other churches are interested in joining the team - how awesome is God!
Susan
Los Osos, California
barnonhill@aol.com
I have sewn since before I was ten! I loved to make doll clothes and my grandmother told me that when I could sew with a needle and thread she would let me use her Singer treadle machine! I started my first quilt when I took geometry in High School and discovered I could make a hexagon so I made a cardboard template and started making a grandmother's flower garden quilt using my doll cloth scraps. I made my first dresses and shorts for Africa in 2008 for a friend of a friend to take on a mission trip. I had health problems which prevented me from doing more until 2014 when a former pastor was going to an orphanage in Jinga, near Kampala Uganda. So I asked the church if I could use the hall and asked church friends and fellow quilters if they wanted to sew dresses with me. I got the guidelines and labels from Dress a Girl and we made 18 dress and 13 pair of shorts for the Jinga trip. Since then we have made and given out over 1000 dresses to Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, Panama, Philippines, Bolivia and more!
Shelley
Riverside, San Bernadino, Temecula, Orange County, San Diego areas in Southern
California
ShelleyPeters@verizon.net
After going on my first ever Mission trip to Uganda with Hope 4 Kids, Int. in November of 2018 to dedicate 2 wells, and participating in the Dress a Girl Program, distributing 600 dresses among 3 villages, I got inspired and thought, “This is something I could do!” I have been sewing since 2nd grade, that makes it 58 years, and now have a business where I sew and sell Historical Clothing and patterns, mainly 19th Century, and hold Historical Sewing Workshops once a month. The parallels with the Ugandans living with no running water and no electricity seem familiar to me as a Civil War Reenactor, but I saw the extreme poverty, too, in the Tororo area. Experiencing the smiles, joy, and dignity that the girls exhibited when they received their dresses was very heartwarming. On a personal note, I lost my son when he was 14 1/2 in a dirt bike accident. He is safe in heaven now and God must have a sense of humor because I now have 5 tow-headed grandsons from my 2 daughters….. but no granddaughters to sew dresses for. Our church, Olive Grove Church, in Nuevo, is planning on raising money for a 3rd Well and we plan to go back to Uganda in 2020 for the well dedication. I plan to go again but with suitcases full of dresses this time! I would love to encourage anyone to go as a Team Member or to help by sewing dresses with Dress a Girl! I am in the Inland Empire/San Diego area. Workshop days will be set up soon.
Valerie Co-Ambassador
Denver Metro Area, Colorado
mishekconcerts@gmail.com
Ambassador's List:
Arizona:
1) Tucson: Carol
2) Sedona: Lin
3) Scottsdale: Patti
4) Phoenix: DAG Group
Arkansas:
Donna
California:
1) Bay Area: Suzanne
2)Central Valley: Pat
3) Northern California: Sharon
4) Santa Cruz: Barbara
6) Arroyo Grande: Pamela
7) Fresno: Charlotte & Claudia
dressagirlfresno@gmail.com
affordableoriginals@comcast.net
9) Los Osos: Susan
10) Riverside, San Diego areas
11) South Bay! Diana
Colorado:
1) Southern- Maria
2) Denver Metro- Valerie
3) Denver Metro- Ellen
Connecticut:
Sue
ctdressagirl@gmail.com
Florida:
1) Jacksonville: Holly
2) South Jax: Cindy
3) Orlando- Dressed In Hope
4) Pensacola- Susan
dressagirllakewalesfl@yahoo.com
5)Lake Wales- Suzanne
Georgia:
Noie Craven
noiecraven@yahoo.com
Hawaii:
West: Jeanette
Iowa:
1) Headquarter- Forest City: Rachel
2) Des Moines- Donna
3) North East Iowa- Julie
4) Southeast Iowa- Connie
Kansas:
1) Overland Park- Clarice
2) Southwestern Kansas- Mary
Louisiana:
1) Susan
dressagirlaroundtheworldla@gmail.com
2) Northeastern- Christie
Maine:
Maryland: Marisa
Massachusetts:
1) Gail
2) Evelyn
Minnesota:
Kitty
Missouri:
1) Cassville, MO- Sue
2) Monett, MO- Pam
3) Candice
Nevada:
Kay
North Carolina:
1) Connie
2) Davidson- Michelle
New Jersey:
1) Jacquie
Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Northeastern Massachusetts:
Jane
New Mexico:
1) Cam & Terri
2) Eastern New Mexico- Donna
New York:
1)Mary Jo/Angels of Mercy
2) NYC- Sharon
3) Tupperlake- Peg
Oklahoma:
Kelly
Sewsweet_bk@hotmail.com
Ohio:
1) Michelle
dressagirlohio@yahoo.com
2) Dayton area- Judy
judysjumpers@gmail.com
3) Central Ohio- Karen
kheath98@gmail.com
Oregon/Washington:
Pearl
dressagirlpearl@gmail.com
Pennsylvania:
1)Renita
2)Sunny
Tenessee:
Valencia
Texas:
1) Dallas/Fort Worth- Kristin
2) Houston- Renee
3) Nacona- Betsy
estrickler@starvationaviation.com
4) Cypress Texas- Valeri
5) Dripping Springs- Marla
South Carolina: Georgetown
1) Mary Holland
2) Libby O'Hara
Wisconsin:
Sandi
Valerie Mishek: This journey of making pillowcase dresses started when I watched an Operation Christmas video on Facebook about 100-year-old Eva making these adorable dresses for girls in need. I told my mom about it, and she loved the idea. At that time, she was 94 years old. My mom passed away a few months later at the age of 95. As I was going through my parents’ house, I found a bolt of red floral fabric. I asked myself, “what can I do with this fabric?”. I remembered Eva’s story and that my mom loved the idea. I decided to do this project dedicated to the memory of my mother, Darlene Mishek, who was a talented seamstress. I started making dresses with the red fabric and ended up with ten dresses. I added patch pockets which I embroidered with my embroidery machine, and I also added eyelet and lace trims to the dresses. Having so much fun with this project, I asked a friend to help me. She added two more dresses. Then, another friend, Ellen Shamas-Brandt, joined in making another ten dresses and drawstring purses while we were camping in our motorhomes in the mountains of Colorado. I added three more dresses that week as well from fabric from my wedding. We presented the dresses at our sewing machine store in Littleton, Colorado and more ladies joined us in making dresses and purses. For our first dress “drive”, we ended up with 37 dresses and purses which I delivered to Rachel in Forest City, Iowa on September 1, 2022. Ellen and I are now co-ambassadors for the Denver Metro Area in Colorado. We look forward to making many more dresses and meeting other enthusiastic ladies who want to help with our projects.
Ellen Co-Ambassador
Denver Metro Area, Colorado
lightsun764@aol.com
Ellen began sewing as a child in a Learn to Sew class, where she made a lovely gown out of white sheet fabric. For most of her adult life, she has primarily sewn badges and patches on her daughters’ Girl Scout uniforms. When she was trying to repurpose some drapery fabric, her friend Valerie said that it could be used to make beautiful dresses for Dress a Girl. Valerie, a true ambassador, convinced her to try her hand at making some dresses out of the material, and she got hooked! Valerie and Ellen spent a week camping in their RVs, making dresses and purses. Since then, Ellen has learned more about sewing, and even made two T-shirt quilts for her daughters for Christmas. Having two daughters and being a member of P.E.O., she is attracted to organizations that help and empower females. She is excited to join Valerie is getting more people involved in this valuable and important cause!
Maria
Southern Colorado
mariastepien@hotmail.com
For a long time I looked for an opportunity to do something I would have a passion for and that would help others. One day I read in the St. Mary of Vernon Parish (Vernon Hills, IL) church bulletin about a wonderful organization led by an amazing woman named Sidney that sewed dresses for poor girls. This sounded like something I could do and I attended the first event. Since then I have fallen in love with this ministry and am honored to be part of this organization. I do not have children of my own and this is truly a blessing for me to have the opportunity to make a difference in a little girl’s life. We recently moved to Colorado and I want to continue my charity work. I became passionate about this ministry and found a purpose that is beyond my own dreams. I would like to start a group of women here in Woodland Park, CO to follow a simple yet needed way to help poor girls own a dress. I will work hard to encourage people to get involved in making a difference in someone's life. If you like to sew, please join me. I would love to hear from you. I am honored to be an ambassador for the Southern Colorado area until Teresa, who did this job before me, will join us again.
Sue
Connecticut
ctdressagirl@gmail.com
Born and grew up in Beverly, Massachusetts then moved to Connecticut in 1969. I have two sisters that live in New England. I also have three daughters, one son-in-law, three grandsons and one granddaughter. Life has been busy. I’m a member of a local quilting guild, which is where I learned about Dress A Girl. One of the ladies at the guild talked to me about DAG and gave me a label that she had with her. As soon as I arrived home I checked out DAG website. After reading I knew this was for me. I ordered labels and got fabric together. Then put together my first DAG event with some wonderful ladies at our campground in NH. There was lots of talking, sewing and ironing going on and we enjoyed it so much that we are making this a yearly event. “EVERY GIRL DESERVES A DRESS”
Holly
Jacksonville, Florida
Dressagirlpinewood@gmail.com
I had the good fortune to be raised in a Christian family that was always involved in mission out reaches. When I made a personal decision to trust Jesus, He gave me the same desires.I have been married to my dear husband for 42 years. We have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. My daughter told me about DAG. I was very interested, but because I was teaching at that time and didn't have the time needed to start something new, I filed the thought away. As a retirement gift, my husband gave me a beautiful sewing room. The stage was set. I went to the website, found the nearest group and attended one of their sew times with a dear friend. We came back to our church very excited with the thought we can be part of this wonderful ministry of sewing God's best dresses for His sweet needy girls. As I have talked to others about it, God has raised up a mighty band of faithful people who are part of our ministry. Our dresses are sewn one at a time and they are as unique and beautiful as the girls receiving them. As we sew we pray for the girls who will receive the dress and those who deliver them. It is an honor and privilege to be part of such an incredible ministry, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ one dress at a time.
Cindy
South Jax, Florida
cbennett562000@yahoo.com
After a long and successful career in the corporate world, I’m now retired and doing things I never had time for before. I lived in Atlanta for 15 years for work but am now happy to be back home in Jacksonville, FL where I’m blessed to be able to have my Mom live with me along with my rescued dogs Mandy and Pickles. When I first heard about DAG from my neighbor Melanie, I couldn’t believe that I’d never heard of it before. What a simple concept with such a huge impact! I’ve gone on several mission trips in my life but nothing I’ve done feels as personal as this. Your effort, your creativity, your love for children, and your love for God are all rolled up into making these dresses. When I look at a dress, I think about the little girl who will be receiving it and how it and the message of God’s love will make a difference in her life now and in her future. I couldn’t wait to get involved and invited my Mom and sisters to get involved too. After attending several meetings, this like-minded band of women decided we needed a chapter in our area so we can help spread the word about this great ministry and offer others the opportunity to get involved. And you know what? Almost everyone approached has been interested in being involved in some way. Wow! Our God is an awesome God! I look forward to helping to make DAG a bigger channel for reaching out to the world with the message of God’s love.
Christine
Orlando, Florida
christine.kraus21@gmail.com
Our dynamic Orlando group has grown to over 50 volunteers. Courtesy of Village Walk, Lake Nona, Orlando, these dedicated women meet every Thursday from 10 -12 p.m. at its Town Center to create dresses and matching dolls that are “made with love.” The enthusiasm extends beyond the greater Orlando area, as we are fortunate to have talented “satellite seamstresses” in over 10 cities across the state and beyond our state line—from California to Connecticut. These partners have delivered over 650 dresses. The Dressed in Hope group hit an exciting milestone—since 2013 it has distributed over 2,700 dresses to 15 countries. Our success is a collaborative effort—from the generous donations of beautiful fabrics and notions to the personal distribution of dresses to orphanages by groups including AirMobile Ministries, Church of Nazarene, Delta Cares, Morgan Associates, Nautique Cares, Pine Hills Church in Indiana, Reach Out to Haiti, Ryan Epps Home, the Tebow Foundation, and the University of Central Florida Burnett Honors College.
Susan
Pensacola, Florida
My name is Susan Smith. My husband (Barry) and I live in Pensacola Florida. We moved to Florida in 2012 to escape the cold and snow of the mountains of Maryland. I have loved to sew since Middle School and prior to retirement was the owner of a sewing business fabricating custom window treatments. Barry is a retired pastor and all of the churches we served became very mission minded. I have been on and led several short term missions to Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic and have seen firsthand the great need to help children in other lands. When I discovered Dress A Girl, I knew immediately that this was God calling me to a new ministry. Barry and I plan to work hard to encourage the people of Northwest Florida to get involved in making a difference is little girls lives, providing dresses and respect to those who are often forgotten or neglected.
Suzanne
Lake Wales, Florida
Syoung1012@yahoo.com
For me, sewing started at a young age. Well, knitting came first; then sewing a few years later. Creating something from a few things/ingredients always amazed me. Isn't it great that a ball of yarn and 2 (or more) pointed sticks can produce a scarf, hat & mittens, or a few pieces of shaped paper, a few other essential items, fabric & a sewing machine and end result is you get to wear a new outfit? I do know neither craft is that simple but neither task is that hard either. While watching a YouTube video on bias tape and sundresses, Dress-A-Girl was mentioned and I followed the provided link. What an eye-opener! Now, I'm looking forward to a community of hearts & helping hands willing to create dresses and brighter days for girls around the world.
Noie
Georgia
noiecraven@yahoo.com
My name is Lenora “Noie” Craven. I first learned of Dress a Girl Around the World when I went on a mission trip to Mozambique, Africa. There we witnessed, baptized, distributed Bibles, and Dresses. The dresses were a wonderful Christian outreach. When I returned to my home in Brunswick, Georgia, I found out that the Georgia Ambassador we had worked with was retiring. After pray and careful consideration, I became a Georgia Ambassador for Dress a Girl Around the World. On a personal note, I was born in Chester County, SC, graduated from Chester County High School, an Winthrop University. I have been married for 40+ years to the same man; and we have one adult son. We live on the coast of Georgia in the town of Brunswick Georgia.
Jeanette
Hawaii
mjvater@windstream.net
I have been sewing for 56 years, and it is my passion. When I moved to Hawaii's Big Island 6 years ago I began sewing with the Dress A Girl group making dresses to be distributed over the world. I love the pictures of the smiling faces of the girls wearing their new dress from our Hawaii group. I am so pleased that my passion can now produce smiles on girls who may never have a new dress or even a dress of their own. I am blessed to have traveled to many third-world countries over the years and the poverty is astounding. It is also the children who are forgotten and often start working at an early age to help support their families. To provide something to make them feel remembered and special is a wonderful blessing to me. I am honored to be apart of this organization.
Julie
Northeast, Iowa
tomjulie1978@gmail.com
I grew up with my Mother teaching me how to sew at around age 12, then my Junior High & High School Home Ec. teachers took it from there! Being tall, I made a lot of my clothes, making pants, shirts & blouses. When my kids were little, I sewed most of their clothes, even taking apart a winter coat to make a snow suit for my daughter! Now I do alterations for friends & relatives, sew curtains, purses, diaper bags, bibs & burp cloths & lots of dresses! Ten years ago, a friends Grandmother told me about Dress A Girl & gave me a pattern to make a pillowcase dress. Since I didn’t have any pillowcases, I used fabric left over from our kids, when they were little. They turned out so cute & I was hooked! Since Iowa winters can be cold & snowy, this is the perfect time for me to sew & in February I posted four dresses & a little write up about DAG on FB. Gals started contacting me, even teenagers & I am giving presentations on how to make the dresses. I feel so blessed to share & teach others my God given talent, knowing how these dresses can change a girl’s life. I love helping others, especially little kids in poor countries. I live on a 540-acre Century Farm in NE Iowa. We raise corn, beans, alfalfa, oats & have a 100 head black angus cow/calf operation. I’ve been married 41 years, have 3 married children, 8 grandchildren & work part-time in a Podiatry Clinic. Besides sewing, I help my husband on the farm, make greeting cards, love to walk, do crafts, bake, feed the birds & love spending time with family & friends. When I retire, I plan on doing missionary work & would love to see how happy the dresses make the girls & the expressions on their faces. There is nothing more precious than a child of God!
Donna M
Grimes, Iowa
DAGdesmoines@aol.com
I started sewing in Junior high school. I was never a fabulous seamstress but made curtains, simple clothes and projects of all kinds. I hadn't sewn in years but I became involved in Dress a Girl in Rochester NY. It was part of an organization called Angels of Mercy which addresses the abuse & trafficking of women. They started making dresses for DAG about 7 years ago. I loved the idea and joined in the group. As a result of our daughter’s coaxing, last June my husband and I relocated to Des Moines, IA where she and her family live. From the day we made the decision to move, getting involved in DAG was my goal. I was driven to join a DAG group in Des Moines, to help me meet new people and make dresses for this wonderful organization. Much to my amazement, there was no such group and in fact hardly anyone had heard of it. Not to be discouraged, I decided to start a group. We moved into a senior independent living residence called the Reserve. With the backing of the Reserve staff, I was able to use our craft room which already had 3 vintage sewing machines and start DAG right here! We had the location; all we needed was the materials. There’s a church next door so I thought maybe we could get donated fabrics if they had any outreach programs. They invited me to speak to their ladies organization. As a result, their group gave us our first donation and the best part was that 3 of the ladies joined our monthly workshops. We bought some fabric, had an organizing meeting in February and our first workshop in March. We're a small group, but dedicated, and within weeks we had produced 45 dresses. We had no idea where we would send the dresses but I had the faith that by the time we had enough made, we'd know. By this time I was sure that it was what God had in mind when he sent us to Iowa. My husband and I believe in what we call God incidences. You know, things that happen without our direction and totally out of our control. Just like stopping by the church got us our first donation. One of our neighbors told us about a friend who has been flying humanitarian trips to Haiti since the earthquake back several years ago. These friends had shown him the dresses. As it turned out he had built an orphanage that was home to 72 girls. Did we cross paths by coincidence? I don't think so! And we had our first destination, and not because of us! After 4 months we have made almost 200 dresses and the involvement of 2 churches, a senior center and the commitment of our Drake University women’s basketball team to donate hours of community service to DAG. It’s growing faster then I ever imagined. We have been blessed in so many ways and I truly know that this is God’s plan for me. If you're anywhere in Iowa and want to get a DAG group going, contact me. I'll do whatever I can to help you get started. The real joy comes when you see photos of the smiling faces of little girls as they twirl around in their very own dress. Knowing the pride, self confidence and feeling of being beautiful, they may be experiencing for the very first time!
Connie
Southeast, Iowa
cj_n_b@hotmail.com
Hello from Connie of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. I feel so fortunate to be involved with such a great group that gives of themselves! I work fulltime at the USDA/Farm Service Agency and have enjoyed my position for 33 yrs as a Program Technician. After the unexpected death of my husband of 36 yrs, I dedicated by life to GODs work! I also work with my TTT Chapter as the Camp Chairman. TTT is a group of ladies that fund raise to send 4th grade girls to camp each year! I love to spend any free time kayaking, camping, going to races and riding horses. I have a grown son who is a machinist and motor builder! I am very excited about this adventure with Dress a Girl Around the World!
Mary and Sarah
Southwestern, Kansas
mjm101@outlook.com
Hello, we are Mary (mother) and Sarah (daughter) Mills. Sarah has been the Kansas Youth Ambassador since 2018, and is now joining me as the Southwestern Kansas Ambassador. We are both honored to be a part of this amazing ministry that empowers women through education and entrepreneurship, and protects the next generation of women (little girls) so they may reach their potential, too. I am enjoying serving DAG and working alongside my daughter to impact precious little girls’ lives around the world. Psalm 68:11, The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host/army. Sarah, “I am looking forward to continuing my work with Dress a Girl Around the World that inspires girls to be the amazing humans that they were designed to be.” Psalm 144:12, and our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace.
Clarice
Overland, Kansas
coeltjen@kc.rr.com
My passion is creativity. I’ve been sewing since I was 7 and quilting for the past 25 years. Retired, I began looking for a volunteer opportunity where I could use my creative skills as well as teaching and organizational skills. Early in 2018, I found Dress a Girl Around the World. I attended my first workshop and was hooked! I hold monthly workshops in Overland Park. Currently, my group is sewing for orphanages in Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico and Vietnam, sending 112 dresses so far, with 24 going to Peru in January 2019. I will travel to your group to teach the dressmaking process, or talk with you about fundraising activities to support the mission. Be prepared for the most fun you can have with your sewing machine and one yard of fabric!
Susan
Louisiana
dressagirlaroundtheworldla@gmail.com
I am Susan and live in Covington, LA with my husband Gary and two children Abby, 13 and Sophie 10. I have been sewing since I was 14 years old and still enjoy it. I am very excited to be apart of Dress a Girl around the World and to be able to offer my gift of sewing. God has blessed me in so many ways, that I am so glad that I can give back. I own Create a Trip Travel Agency of 20 years and work as a Real Estate Agent. I also am Louisiana State Classic Queen and Miss Heart of the USA Mrs. Division title holder and proud to have Dress a Girl around the World as my Platform.
Christie
Northeastern, Louisiana
cpcurtis32@gmail.com
Christie began the DAG mission project at Graceminster Presbyterian Church in 2018 with only herself and the pastor's wife. In January three more people became involved which led her to start a beginner sewing class in June 2019. There are currently three instructors, three aides and ten students who it is hoped will be involved in making these dresses. Born and raised in Dallas, Christie has lived in Louisiana almost 40 years. She and her husband Patrick have three children and two grandchildren. When the last chick flew the coop, she returned to graduate school and has two Master's degrees in Counseling. She worked as a substance abuse counselor. Christie heard of the DAG mission from her parent's church in Dallas. Since she sewed all her life, adapting her skills to the dresses was a no brainer. Christie is a lifelong Presbyterian, having accepted Christ as her personal savior at the age of 12. She has been active in church activities including singing in the choir, teaching children's church and Sunday School, and running/teaching VBS.
Marisa
Maryland
DAGMD@yahoo.com
My name is Marisa, and I have lived in Maryland most of my life. I am married, and we are raising four children between the ages of 4 and 15. We keep busy with homeschool, church, and a small farmette. As I grew up, I watched my mother sew everything from curtains to my wedding dress! Finally, in Jan 2018, I learned to sew, and a friend told me about Dress A Girl. I was so excited to use my new hobby for the glory of God! One of my favorite Bible passages is Isaiah 58:6-8. I believe DAG fits that message: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Gail Co-Ambassador
Massachusetts
gmac2002a@yahoo.com
I am a recently retired school teacher who works in our local library in West Bridgewater, MA. Ever since my sister, Kendra Arocho, introduced me to Dress a Girl Around the World, I have renewed my love of sewing and creating. It has been a new found purpose supporting the mission of Dress a Girl. I have a five-year-old granddaughter that helps Nana sew and package dresses and a five-month-old granddaughter that will be getting her sewing lessons as soon as she stops drooling.
Evelyn Co-Ambassador
Massachusetts
eviedelutis@gmail.com
Hi. My name is Evie DeLutis. I live in Bridgewater, MA. I am a retired kindergarten teacher. I learned to sew at my mother's side and have always loved fabric. I learned about DAG from Gail McCarthy when visiting the library in her town of West Bridgewater, MA. I immediately fell in love with the idea and the joy it brings to young women worldwide. Several Bridgewater women jumped happily on board and we have been sewing dresses together for over 2 years. It has uplifted our spirits and formed close friendships. Gail's town and ours have now joined into one happy and creative unit.
Kitty
Minnesota
dagminnesota@gmail.com
I started sewing for Dress A Girl early in 2014 and love doing it. I started with some fabric and lace that my mother collected during her life, but I have added to my collection as sales happen. I am the mother of three grown children, grandmother to 14, and great-grandmother to one. I lived in England for two years in the 60's. That is where my oldest was born. That was a very interesting experience. Three of my grandchildren were born in Ethiopia and adopted when they were 3 - 5 years old. I traveled with my daughter and son-in-law to pick up the first child they adopted. On that trip, I saw first hand the state of development of one African country. We saw men and boys plowing fields with oxen and wooden plows. Some areas had no electricity. Clothes were washed in ditches running beside dirt roads. This brought home to me that great advantages that we live with every day and take for granted. That is part of my motivation for this ministry. I also want to do something useful with my time and resources.
Sue and Pam
Co-Southwestern, Missouri Ambassadors
suecavness@gmail.com
wormingtonfarms@gmail.com
We are Sue and Pam, Co-Ambassadors from Southwest Missouri. We are super excited and honored to be a part of the Dress A Girl Around the World ministry. Dress A Girl Southwest Missouri of Cassville was launched by Sue in 2018. Pam planted a group in Monett in 2022. Together we combine our efforts to provide hope and joy to at-risk girls and women all over the world…one dress at a time. We each host “Work Days” at our churches to put assemble dress and short kits. A kit includes everything needed to complete a dress or pair of shorts. These kits are provided to seamstresses who sew up the dresses/shorts at their homes and return to Sue or Pam when completed. We like to send dresses directly with the missionaries so they can individually present a dress to each girl, telling them they are worthy of respect and loved by God and clothed in His righteousness. You can be an experienced or novice seamstress. Maybe you’re a non-sewer. There’s a job for everyone! We’d love to have you join us at our “Work Days.” We’d also be happy to receive your dresses and make sure they get to the girls around the world! We’re always open to mission opportunities as well. Be sure to like our Facebook page, “Dress A Girl Southwest Missouri” to follow God’s journey. “If we view life through the lens of worship, nothing in life will give us more joy than serving Jesus.” unknown
Candice
Missouri
dagmissouri@gmail.com
I am a wife and homeschool mom of 6 little blessings. Our family operates a small family farm in southern Missouri and my husband is also a pastor of a country church. Our family seeks to find ways in which we can serve others and show God’s love to the world which He created. I was so excited to find out about Dress A Girl Around the World and the mission opportunities it affords our family and community. I was reminded the other day of a Matthew 25:40 “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. “ We are so blessed in our country and we take many things for granted. While our children “choose” what to wear and eat, other little ones around the world wear tattered scraps of cloth and go hungry. God honors and blessed the work of a faithful heart. We may have what seems to some as little to offer, but little is much when God is in it! We are looking forward to what God will do in Missouri! If you have any questions or want to donate your time, money or resources, please feel free to contact me!
Kay
Nevada
kmcoddington@cox.net
As a mother of two girls and grandmother to six granddaughters, I have a passion for all children, but especially girls. I come from a heritage of strong women, but also of strong men who respected and valued women. It breaks my heart to see any person not feeling valued and it often begins at a very early age. I can see where a pretty dress could make a difference in a young girl's self-esteem and also how she is perceived by others. Sewing is something that has been a great hobby over the years, but recently, I have been blessed to share that joy with other young girls and their moms. When searching the Internet for simple dress patterns I stumbled upon your website. Such a simple dress, but a very obvious impact on these young girls. As I shared this program with others, the excitement to be a part of such a tangible way to make a difference in a girl's life was contagious. We are ready to begin making dresses and excited to be a small part in a worldwide outreach to make positive impact on a girl's life.
Connie
North Carolina
dressagirlnc@gmail.com
I began sewing for Dress a Girl in 2011 and became the NC Ambassador in 2014. When I retired as a Hospice social worker in 2012, I wondered how God would lead me to fill my days. I quickly discovered what a blessing it is to sew for little girls and to be part of the worthwhile ministries of Dress a Girl. I live in Mooresville NC with my husband of 44 years. We have 3 grown sons and 5 grandchildren, ages 11 to 7 months. We enjoy traveling to the mountains and to the beach and spending time with the grands. I also enjoy sewing, gardening, and reading. I am honored to continue to have this opportunity to serve as an ambassador for Dress a Girl.
Michelle
North Carolina
NCdressagirl@gmail.com
Hello everyone! My mom and I own a small quilt shop in Davidson, NC. We heard about Project Dress A Girl on YouTube and instantly felt led to become involved as much as possible! Being a quilt shop, we have the skill set, community ties, and the willingness to make lots of beautiful dresses for girls around the world. We’re looking forward to helping as many girls as possible have their very own God’s Best Dress! If you’re local to us, feel free to stop by and pick up a free kit to make a dress. We have the fabric, elastic, and guidelines already put together for you!
Jacquie
New Jersey
DressAGirljj@gmail.com
As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can all do small things with great love.” I was born in Zambia and lived there until I was 7. As the daughter of a British banker, I was protected from many of the harsh conditions of such an impoverished country. However, I still remember the food shortages, specifically meat, and as for clothes -- forget it! My sister and I were lucky though -- my mother knew how to sew and we never went without cute little dresses! I’ve always loved all things girly, but as the mother of boys, I found that sugar and spice and all things nice was not the way I rolled anymore – flowers and fabric were traded in for fire trucks and football (and I wouldn’t change a thing!) – until I found Dress a Girl! Now I can pick out the pinkest and prettiest fabrics I can find and know they will make little girls somewhere smile. I also have my own skincare business and love to watch my clients become more confident as they transform their skin. However, creating beautiful dresses that not only carry a message of hope and love to those forgotten and neglected, but more importantly, keep them safe from predators is both humbling and delightful. The area in which I live is very service-oriented and I have high hopes for many dresses to be made here with great love. Being an ambassador for Dress a Girl around the world is a small thing I can do, and I am honored to have this opportunity to serve.
Jane
Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Northeastern Massachusetts)
janenicholsbishop@gmail.com
My love for sewing led me to be a contributor of dresses for our local Dress A Girl chapter since 2017. I am thrilled to be the Ambassador of our large group covering 4 states! I was born and raised in Hallowell, Maine. My maternal grandmother was a talented fiber crafter and encouraged that interest in me. At age 10, I was allowed to use her sewing machine and was hooked! My first Sears cast iron sewing machine was my prized possession and throughout my teens I made clothes for my mother, sister and myself. I am a recent retiree from the corporate and non-profit world who still loves to sew and create. Please join us on Facebook: Dress A Girl - Northern New England Chapter. You are welcome to join us at one of our many sews scheduled throughout our service area.
Donna
Eastern New Mexico
info@dressagirlnewmexico.org
http://dressagirlnewmexico.org
My name is Donna. I'm a retired teacher and live in Portales, NM. I have three grown children and ten grandchildren. I learned to quilt from my grandmother at a young age and have been incredibly happy to rekindle my interest since my retirement. During the COVID quarantine 1200 fabric masks to donate to retirement facilities as well as family and friends. My husband is an area missionary serving forty-three Baptist churches on the eastern side of our state. My hope is to make this area of our state aware of the need for DAG dresses and then fill that need.
Cam And Terri
New Mexico
dressagirl.sjc@gmail.com
Hi! We are Cam & Terri. This group began in 2013 when Cam and her friend Maggie began building the ministry with Maggie’s daughter, Alyssa becoming the Junior Ambassador. Along with their daughters, friends, clubs, and local churches, they began making dresses. Alyssa ran the show for a few years, holding workshops and enlisting several organizations to get involved. Alyssa then went to college and Cam and Maggie kept the San Juan County chapter going until Maggie and her husband sadly had to relocate with his job in the summer of 2019. Dress A Girl San Juan County was so sad to see Maggie leave, but God provided throughout the transition with a wonderful group of seamstresses. Among them is Terri, a former Home Economics teacher, who stepped up to become the new Co-Ambassador! Terri has been passionate about sewing and quilting for many years and began sewing for Dress a Girl, San Juan County in 2016. She enjoys all aspects of Dress a Girl and getting to know other sewers. This ministry has blossomed over the last two years with seamstresses all over the state and even into Southern Colorado and Texas. God has provided and blessed us and we would love to hear from you if you have any questions or want to be a part of our group!
Mary Jo And Angels Of Mercy
New York
designingheart@aol.com
https://www.angelsofmercyny.org/
Mary Jo & her Angels of Mercy are doing a phenomenal job in New York. They are constantly in the news for their work with Dress a Girl and have had as many as 150 women show up with sewing machines in hand for events. They are going strong and have 40 locations sewing currently. From their base in Rochester they have made/sent/shipped over 88,000 dresses to Haiti, Peru, Nepal, Cambodia & France. Mary Jo says: "Our goal is to reach the ends of the earth and we are on our way!!!!" "God is so Great…He sends women and girls with the heart to "SEW" seeds into the lives of young ones."
Sharon
New York City Area
Sewing4DAW@yahoo.com
My name is Sharon Brown and I reside in the Long Island area in NY. Matthew 25:36a says " I needed clothes and you clothed me", if you have done it to the least of these you have done it unto me. As I serve as an Ambassador for 'Dress a Girl Around the World" I am happy to render service to Christ. I am excited and honored to serve God's people through the gift God has given me. If you live in the surrounding area please feel free to contact me and let's work together! Making God's best dress for He's greatest gifts to the world!
Peg
Tupper Lake, New York
pmauer2004@yahoo.com
https://llwesleyan.com/index.php/dress-a-girl/
I became involved in Dress a Girl in early 2014, when my small church was looking for a project. My sister attended a large church in Rochester NY where they had a DAG team, so I suggested that we make dresses for little girls; our small church was very enthusiastic! So I asked my sister and her friend to come to the Adirondacks to get us organized. Since April 2014, we have met almost monthly and have made over 3,848 dresses that we’ve sent to Haiti, Nepal, South America, Nakaseke Uganda, India, Romania, and Brasilia Brazil. We have also distributed about 834 dresses through Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. Whenever I learn of someone traveling overseas, I ask them if they’d like to take some dresses; I always get an enthusiastic YES! You can see many photos on our website (below) of our seamstresses, and the happy girls who have received DAG dresses! We praise God for helping us protect his little girls, and hopefully protect them from trafficking.
Kelly
Oklahoma
Sewsweet_bk@hotmail.com
My name is Kelly, I am a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City. I am truly blessed to be very happily married to Randy Baker for 33 years, and I am truly blessed to have 5 amazing children who are 14,16,19,21 and 24 years old. I am also truly blessed to be a part of Dress A Girl and Hope for Women!
Michelle Berkes And Marie Evans
Ohio- Cuyahoga Falls & Akron
dressagirlohio@yahoo.com
Providing a little piece of Hope to a young girl is an amazing feeling. By our commitment to give a little of our time and effort, we can help in the mission that “Every Girl deserves at least one dress.” I am a mother of 5 children, 4 girls, and a boy. I have been married for 20 years and am a follower of Christ. I started sewing when I saw a dress that I feel in love with at an auction I did not win and was determined to make it. After lots of classes, I made that dress. The feeling I got with that accomplishment made me move on to the next project..and the next project… I love being able to share my love of sewing and giving with others. I hope you will join me and send all your beautifully made dresses so I can help distribute them to these amazing, beautiful little gifts from God.
Karen
Central Ohio
kheath98@gmail.com
Hi, I am Karen Heath and I live in central Ohio with my husband; we are both Christians. We are retired, and we are so busy now that I wonder how we had time to work for a living. Seriously, it is relaxing to have the freedom to pursue our personal interests. We are involved with our local church where I attend the Women of Missions group and Women’s Bible Study. I have previously taught in the Children’s Ministry. I have also taught quilting classes at church where we donated baby quilts to the local Pregnancy Distress Centers. As the daughter of a professional dressmaker, I grew up in the sewing room. I was sewing so much that at the age of nine I received my own sewing machine. I love to make clothes, quilts, and home décor items. A few years ago, I donated a couple of shoe boxes, with dresses, at Christmas time. I then went on a search to find a place that would accept the clothes I make for the poorest of God’s children. I like Dress a Girl because of their ministry and guidelines for the dresses. I have enjoyed this ministry so much that I wanted to become more involved, so I am now an Ambassador.
Judy
Cincinnati/Dayton Ohio
judysjumpers@gmail.com
I learned about Dress a Girl back in 2017. I have become an empty nester and even though I still work full-time I started praying for a passion. My pastor had been preaching on serving, giving back, using your talents and for about 5 months I had been praying for a passion. Asking, how can I make a difference? What can I do? One day on the news I saw an interview with a lady talking about how she made dresses for little girls in need with Dress A Girl. I stopped what I was doing and listened. It was only about a 2 minute interview so I started researching wanting to know more. Long story short...God opened the door to my new passion and I am so very thankful. What a blessing 2018 has been. I went to Guatemala and took 206 dresses to hand out. I have seen God move and provide me with many God stories that I know without a doubt that this is what I am called to do. I have met so many wonderful women who are willing to help through this ministry. Remember, it's HOW we live our life; not how long we live. Be a blessing to others each day. For when we serve others, we serve Jesus. It is an honor and privilege to be a part of such an incredible ministry. I am so excited to see what God has for me and the DAG Ministry this coming year. So far I have a request for a need in Haiti. Contact me if you have any questions or are interested in helping giving HOPE one dress at a time. I have helpers from ages 9 to 91; sewers and non-sewers alike. Please let me know if you need an addiction because this is just the thing. One dress gets cuter than the next and I can't stop! Will you join me in making a difference in little girls lives around the world who may not even own a dress?
Pearl
Oregon/Washington
dressagirlpearl@gmail.com
Hello my name is Pearl and I live in southwest Washington state near the Columbia River that separates us from Oregon. I have been sewing since an early age, took Home Economics in school, and made may own clothes. When I was a little girl, my mother's friend, Mary Johnson sewed dresses for us twice a year at Easter and Christmas. Now I sew dresses for little girls around the world. Since joining the Dress a Girl program, I have met many talented women, some experienced quilters and some that have not sewn for a while. You will become a better seamstress by sewing dresses of love to travel around the world. Contact me and I will try to connect you with other women who are sewing dresses for our program or guide you to start your own Dress a Girl program in your area.
Renita
Pennsylvania
Tressler71@outlook.com
My favorite age to sew for is for ages two to 12 year old girls. Having five granddaughters has given me ample opportunity to be creative! They now have plenty of dresses that will be handed down to each other. About two years ago Dee, a good friend of mine, gave me two large boxes of material. Since the Grandorables had plenty of NiniLu (they call me NINI and I added the LU that stands for LOVES YOU!) dresses, I had to find a way to use this material. A quick search online for charitable sewing revealed the perfect answer for me. I could continue sewing for the age that I love as well as have a world wide impact. Each DAG dress is prayed over and is made with the same care and attention to detail used to make dresses for the Grandorables. We have a weekly workshop every Wednesday from 9-noon where we make Humanitarian Dolls and well as Dresses to send. I am ever so grateful to DAG for giving me the opportunity to make a difference.
Sunny
York, Pennsylvania
DAGSunny6@gmail.com
Hello to all the Fellow Sewers My name is Sunny Rumer. I am a mother of two adult girls and three grandsons who are the light of my life. I currently live in York, Pa. I am a member of Living Word Community Church in Red Lion, Pa. (A stone’s throw away from York.) I am part of a sewing group at the church. We call our group Sewing Seeds. We have been sewing Hygiene Kits for women and girls in countries like Guatemala and Ethiopia. I have been sewing dresses for Dress a Girl Around the world for about three years. I recently lost my husband to cancer and wondered what God was leading me to do to fill my days. Well, I’m not completely alone…I have a friendly feline companion named Boots. She just turned nine years old in August. She likes to sit under my chair while I’m sewing. So, anyway I thought that since our church already has a passion for helping women around the world with one project, why not start another project to extend that blessing to more girls? I’m honored to serve as an ambassador to Dress A Girl in York and the surrounding area.
Valencia
Nashville, Tennessee
DAGnashville@gmail.com
I was introduced to DAG in 2021 by the sewing community via social media. After sewing and sending dresses in 2022 I felt led to be an Ambassador as part of my desire to become more involved in a ministry and active in my local community. My church home leads and supports mission trips and I am excited to see how God will use me and others to show love to girls domestically and internationally.
Kristin
Dallas/Ft Worth, Texas
DAGambassadorDFW1@gmail.com
My name is Kristin Reynolds. I am excited to be part of Dress A Girl Around the World and serve as DFW DAG Ambassador. I first learned of DAG during an internet search for organizations who sew dresses for girls. A few weeks earlier, I attended a quilting retreat where I met a lady who was sewing dresses for missionaries at her church. I love to sew and thought I would enjoy sewing beautiful dresses for girls. A few years later, a couple from our church gathered volunteers together to sew dresses for the Operation Christmas Child boxes our church sends out each year. So I began sewing dresses and have made approximately 200 dresses in 2 years. I love to coordinate fabric, sew dresses and pray over the ones I make. It's become an obsession. ☺I have been married to my husband Jeff for 27 years, the mother of three young men all of whom I have homeschooled and am still schooling our youngest. I am a certified teacher and an AWANA Cubbies leader. I learned to sew in middle school and made Halloween costumes and theater costumes when our boys were younger. I look forward to creating, praying and facilitating the transfer of dresses that will bless girls and show them God's love.
Marla
Dripping Springs, Texas
marlakfburl@gmail.com
Hi Y ‘all! My name is Marla. My husband of over 40 years and I have recently retired to the beautiful Texas hill country town of Dripping Springs. We have 2 grown sons and have been blessed with 4 grandchildren that are the center of our universe. When I’m not running around the ranch with them, I love to travel, embroider, garden, read, scrapbook and hang out with family and friends. I come from a long line of women who sew. I was the little girl making Barbie clothes from my grandmother’s scraps! As a retired decorator, playing with fabrics and putting a sweet little dress together makes me “sew” happy. I was hooked on Dress A Girl as soon as I saw the beaming smiles on the girl’s faces when they got their new dresses. I look forward to being a small part of a movement that enriches and empowers little girls, lifting them up and letting them know that they are loved. I also look forward to meeting new friends along this journey.
Valeri
Cypress, Texas
val29914@sbcglobal.net
I am Valeri Morris. I live in Cypress Texas with my husband of 30 years, Garry and our beloved Weimaraner, Lily. I have been a flight attendant for 20 years with Southwest Airlines, a company that is a blessing in so many ways. They have a wonderful outreach program "Tickets For Time", that allows me to log all of the hours I devote sewing dresses to benefit Hope 4 Women International with periodic travel benefits. I have sewn since I was a little girl. I started in 4H, made some of my own clothes, some dresses for my granddaughters & have made a few fashion show garments as well. I am also a quilter and love that creative outlet as well. Sewing has always given me pleasure but sewing to benefit this organization gives me something much greater...JOY!
Renee
Houston, Texas
rhneehicks@yahoo.com
I was sitting alone feeling a sense of incompleteness when I was watching the news August 10, 2010. Channel 13 in Houston aired a news special about a group of people sewing pillowcase dresses for girls around the world. "I could do that!" Making a difference in the life of a girl whose eyes light up just to own a new dress inspired me to call the Dress A Girl contact. I joined and committed myself to this project to initially make 300 dresses that very night. I was excited to use my limited sewing abilities to a cause that was meaningful, simple to do, and at the same time contribute to making a difference in this world and to bless the life of a child. I joined the Dress A Girl community in 2010. We have two Sewfest a year; one in the fall and one in the spring. I've met so many wonderful people sewing, volunteering, delivering and working together for a common good. The community spirit and excitement fuels the energy at each Sewfest! I truly love sewing and to see your dress somewhere on the other side of the world is a feeling of joy I can't describe! To date, we've made 1,877 dresses and distributed 1,836. Living and Sewing to Serve is what I do!
Betsy
Nacona, Texas
elizabethdstrickler@gmail.com
I live in a tiny town in North Texas a short distance from the Red River. A dear friend started a DAG group in Gainesville and we decided to expand westward. We are one group with two meeting places. We sew dresses in Nocona, TX on the first and third Monday every month. A lady in our group has started using the small scraps to make lap quilts for a local nursing home. God is blessing people exponentially through Dress a Girl.
Libby and Mary
Georgetown, South Carolina
libohara2@gmail.com
meholland22@yahoo.com
Our group was started in 2016. I had returned for my daughter's wedding in Kenya Africa. I returned to work in the fabric dept at Walmart's was helping a few ladies with fabric and asked what it was for. When they explained about Dress a Girl, I knew I wanted to help. I talked to my manager about it. I was told the fabric was getting ready to go on sale and I could buy whatever I wanted. I wanted it all. I had a friend (Cheryl Bellune) who sewed and another (Barbara Mathis) who was going on a mission trip soon. So, we started and sent her with 11 dresses. I talked to my church, and they agreed that we could come there and sew. We have grown and send many dresses to the Missions that the church sponsors and Barbara stills takes some to Mission San Pedro in Guatemala. I have so enjoyed this that it is hard to explain the joy it gives me. We meet at the church the second Wednesday of every month from 10:00 am to 2:00pm. And bring our lunches. Prince George Winyah Parish- 301 Screven St., Georgetown, SC 29440
Sandi
Wisconsin
warsand2@gmail.com
Dress-a-Girl-Around-the–World (Appleton, Wisconsin) My name is Sandi . I have lived in the state of Wisconsin most of my life. Late in my husband’s career, he took a new job that took us to Kansas. It was there that I was introduced to Dress a Girl Around the World. I loved to sew dresses with dolls in the pockets for needy little girls. When our first batch of dresses was delivered by a missionary to an orphanage, the missionary returned requesting something for the boys to wear. So, we began to make simple shorts, placing toy cars in the pockets. Shortly after that, we began to sew baby blankets. I became passionate about the ministry. When my husband retired, we moved back to Appleton, Wisconsin, and I was determined to start a DAG group here. I have had donations of sewing machines, fabric, lace, and everything else I needed to start! Some people sew in their own homes, and every Monday we have both a daytime session and an evening session in our home. The ministry takes up our entire basement, and my husband’s three work benches have been transformed into cutting tables! Come visit us sometime!