Dresses for Orphans, a nonprofit organization, sews outfits for children in overseas orphanages, with the mission of helping these orphans feel special, loved and cared for by providing new, specially made dresses and shirts.
It started as the brainchild of Darlene Carpenter, a Las Sendas resident, when she was semi-retired and looking for volunteer opportunities. She knew she enjoyed doing things to benefit kids, and had a strong sewing background.
Darlene started making outfits in her home, and a short time later, several other women wanted to be part of what she was doing. Dresses for Orphans was born, and today, more than 40 volunteers (including several winter visitors) meet to make the outfits in Mesa, while two other groups do the same in Washington and Ohio. More than 13,000 outfits have been made and sent to 91 orphanages in 29 countries, including Haiti, India, Kenya, Mexico, South Sudan, Swaziland, El Salvador, Russia, China and Uganda.
The comments received indicate how thankful these children are for their new dress or shirt:
“What you are doing makes a huge difference. You are exchanging rags for lovely clothes. This gives hope and dignity.” (Uganda)
“Wow! We just received the darling and beautifully handcrafted outfits. Of all the donations we have received, these are by far the highest quality.” (Philippines)
“All the children are very excited, and some can’t sleep because they are so happy. They have never had new dresses and T-shirts before. They never get very excellent dresses—this is the first time.” (Myanmar)
While the primary emphasis of Dresses for Orphans is to provide a new outfit to orphaned children overseas, they are serving the Mesa community, as well. When a dress is made, there is half a T-shirt that remains as a scrap. Fabric is added to these scraps to make a new T-shirt or a dress. These outfits are donated to the poorest schools in the Mesa district, where the school nurse gives them out. Also, Comfy Cozys for Chemo shirts have been made for children with cancer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Why be concerned about the welfare of orphans around the world who one has never met? Perhaps it could best be summed up in this quote from Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) when she said, “I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody, to be just nobody, to no one.”
To learn more about Dresses for Orphans, please visit the Web site at www.dressesfororphans.org. New volunteers are always welcome. To learn more about how to become involved with this unique organization, please call Darlene at (480) 807-2672. See our ad for our garage sale on page 11.