| Hope in Action
Little Dresses for Africa has been fortunate to be partners with some very dedicated and passionate organizations. The common link with all the projects is that the people involved all care about children. From individuals around the country who are sewing these dresses in their homes in all 50 states and Canada, the UK, Australia and Mexico, to the volunteers that help size, sort and pack them for shipping, and those that support LDFA financially… all of them have been moved into action by their desire to help the children.
What’s Happening
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2011 This year’s exciting fund raiser included the entire family: “Back to School with Laura the Elephant!” raised $12,800. to pay to ship a 40ft container full of school supplies and textbooks, and so much more, donated by YOU!
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2010- Changing Lives here and Across the Ocean, November, 2010 at the Italian American Club in Wyandotte, Raised $20,000 with your generous contributions and Silent and Live Auction. Thank you, Volunteers and Auctioneer, Tim Ryan!
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2009 Dinner Dance – Safari Style A Benefit Dinner was held on September 26, 2009 at the Italian American Club in Wyandotte, MI, raising over $17,000 from our Live Auction, thanks to Tim Ryan and all the Volunteers and attendees. Thanks one and all!
It was a great night of fun night SAFARI style… good food – good music – good dancing and African items were available for purchase and the highlight of the evening was the live auction with Tim Ryan of South Carolina. All proceeds go to pay for shipping costs for our ever-growing relief effort. We have received over 25,000 dresses and have distributed many of them in 9 countries of Africa. But, your financial support is crucial to our success. Stay tuned for our next event!
Teams to Africa- Led by Little Dresses for Africa
- 2010 Malawi, Central Africa, a team of 10 led by Rachel O’Neill, Founder and Director of LDFA served the children of Africa in the Villages, hosted by her “sister” Naomi Manjakayisi, and Ministry of Hope. Both organizations were amazing. Thank you so much for your hospitality. Projects included Bible classes, Buckets of Hope for the Widows, Village visits and thousands of dresses and britches distributed to the children.
- Ethiopia & Kenya 2009:
(in partnership with Life Abundance International)
A team of eleven from five states and six churches were hosted by Life In Abundance International in June 2009 as part of a Vision Team which will partner to establish micro- businesses in both Ethiopia and Kenya. The hope is that these businesses will help to increase self-sufficiency and independence to the people living in these areas. While in Ethiopia and Kenya, Little Dresses for Africa was able to distribute over 2000 little dresses and britches for boys through the schools and churches in the area. They were received with much joy and enthusiasm by the children and their care givers. On behalf of the children, thank you to all of you who sewed, organized, donated packaging supplies or helped financially to this project. Their excited faces said it all! Thank you!
Past Projects
- Making a Difference! Variety Show, November 22, 2008
We are excited to announce that the variety show to benefit Little Dresses for Africa on November 22, 2008 at the Trenton High School Theater was a great success. Money was raised to pay for shipping costs and associated projects – delivering over 12,000 dresses to several countries in Africa. Thank you to all who provided their time and efforts to make this a wonderful show. Please remember to partronize our advertisers as they generously provided financial support for the show.
- 2008 Malawi, Africa Trip A Great Success!!!
In keeping with the mission to bring hope to the little girls of Africa in the name of Jesus, Little Dresses for Africa reports a successful summer. A team of 9 women returned in June 2008 from Malawi, Africa with good reports and warm memories not to mention some great pictures of some beautiful and happy children (photos). The purpose of the trip was to support the work of Save the Orphans Ministries by conducting Bible camps, delivering Buckets of Hope to AIDS patients and delivering the beautiful little dresses to the orphanages in the villages.
- Shipping Container Project: (In partnership with a local group, Hope endeavors) We have raised the shipping costs of $6000 for the container and Hope Endeavors with local support is in the process of funding the balance of $3000 which will cover the cost of the container for permanent storage once it gets there , the ground transportation and broker to receive the container in Malawi and the transport it to the village of Ntcheu. The container will hold 150 bikes, two ox plows, over 1500 text books for the schools, shoes and toiletries and 2000 little dresses to be distributed through the orphanages.
- The Buckets of Hope Project (In partnership with Hope Endeavors on our 2008 mission trip with Little Dresses for Africa)
Brightly colored plastic buckets with lids were distributed through home visits in the villages to patients with AIDS and to their care-givers. It was an excellent opportunity to offer hope, information on health and nutrition as well as the contents of the buckets-rice, beans, flour, oil, toothbrush and toothpaste, a towel and a new little dress for each girl and a school uniform for each boy. The cost of each bucket was $20. We were able to distribute 100 buckets.
- Bible Day Camp Project: (In partnership with Hope Endeavors, our host) Bible camps were offered while we are in Malawi where eleven hunderd children came from miles to be carefree for the day, playing and singing while they learned bible lessons in addition to lessons about nutrition, health and family skills, the prevention of AIDS and clean water and sanitation. While they were there, they each received both breakfast and lunch each day.
- “A World of Talent” Variety Show Project: (November 2007)
Held at the Trenton Village Theatre, the variety show was a community effort to raise money for the cost of a shipping container. This container will be shipped in March 2008 and will hold 150 bikes, two ox plows, over 1500 text books for the schools, toiletries and over 2000 little dresses to be distributed through the orphanages.
- Downriver Guidance Center of Southgate Project: (In partnership with Downriver Guidance Center of Southgate, Michigan, November 2007)
The guidance center along with Little Dresses for Africa offers a sewing night with mentors and students. Students were taught how to sew the little dresses and donations of sewing supplies were accepted through the Guidance Center.
- Soroptomist Club of Wyandotte Project: (In partnership with the Soroptomist Club of Wyandotte, Michigan, December 2007)
Little Dresses for Africa was sponsored as their Holiday Charity Recipient. Held at the Southgate Holiday Inn, Rachel O’Neill of Little Dresses for Africa was the featured speaker at the Holiday Dinner where pillow cases were collected as well as all the proceeds from the Club’s raffle.
- 2008 Fashion Fund Raiser: (April 2008)
Held at the North Lakeport Wesleyan Church, Lakeport, MI. A fashion show to raise money for the 2008 trip to Malawi, Africa. With special performance by “NEW PRINCESS OF TEJANO”, award winning Tejano artist, Megan Leyva. www.meganleyva.com www.myspace.com/meganleyvamanagement Special thanks to Megan Dann who was the producer of this very fine evening.
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