Thursday, January 06, 2011

Guess what I've been doing...

Before I tell you about the above project, let me say "thank you" to everyone for the "Get Well" wishes for my hubby. He is doing much better now, although still somewhat tired & dizzy at times. He just doesn't spring back like he used to!

Now, the project you see spread out on my table are peri-pads for the young women of Haiti. I have wonderfully devout Christian neighbors who travel to Haiti every year to help at a school as missionaries. The young girls of Haiti are missing school every month when they have their periods. In an effort to educate & assist them in learning good personal hygiene as well as keeping them in school, kits are being made up here in the states, containing washable & reusable pads, lightweight underwear, nice fresh smelling soap, a calendar & some Ibuprofen along with instructions on their usage. (Hopefully, some birth control measures will also be taught, but I don't know that for certain)

I donated my HUGE roll of 'Warm & Natural' cotton batting & together about 12-15 ladies have cut colorful flannel for the top & bottom layers & are now sewing these washable peri-pads together for inclusion in the kits to be taken to Haiti sometime in January. Hopefully, the young women will be receptive to this idea & in the future, there are hopes that they could be shown how to construct the pads themselves, perhaps even make it a profitable enterprise in the future. Treadle sewing machines would be needed in some of the areas without electricity, but some locations do have power.

I felt that if only ONE girl was able to continue her education & perhaps later, lift her own family out of abject poverty because of these efforts, then it was time & money well spent.


Thanks for letting me share my projects with you at The Gazebo House. If anyone is interested in helping out with either cutting or sewing or donating materials, you can email me for details & an online pattern link for the pads.


I can't cut & sew & also be on the computer at the same time...dern it! I'll be back to blogging once this job is complete.

fondly,
Photobucket

30 comments:

  1. That is so wonderful! What a tremendous difference you and your friends are making in the lives of these women. There are so many things that we take for granted in this country and feminine products are one of them. I just can't imagine how difficult it must be to lack those resources.

    God bless you.

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  2. Oh, Rett, you sweetheart, you! This is a wonderful project. I'm so proud of you for doing this, and that country is in such dire straits that I know this will be a big help to those young girls.

    Glad you hear that your DH is better and on the mend. I know about boucning back... I'm still in the house three weeks later. This stuff has just been fierce to get rid of.

    Happy New Year to you, my friend...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  3. Glad dh is doing better. None of us bounce back like we used to!

    What a wonderful project, Rett. God bless you and those who are working on it with you.

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  4. I am so glad to hear that your husband is on the mend. I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

    What a great project! You are an amazing person, Rett!

    XO,
    Jane

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  5. What a generous effort this is for those young girls.
    I'm glad your husband is feeling better.

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  6. What a great project and positive start to the new year Rett! So glad your hubby is doing better:@)

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  7. Wow! We take so much for granted don't we!
    What a wonderful idea! Kuddos to all of you who have worked on the project.

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  8. Rett,
    What a wonderful idea and I am sure it will impact the lives of the girls and women.
    Glad your DH is better.
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  9. Well, you just gave me an education. I learned something that I never thought of. What a wonderful cause and how special you are to be doing this. Of course I already knew you were special!

    I "ran" back to see what was up with your hubby, I'm glad it was just a cold, even if it was a bad one (and I know how men can be). Hope he is 100 percent soon.

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  10. All I can say is... you are one incredible woman. What a gift! I need to go back and read. I hope your husband is doing well. I am so out of the loop! Take care!

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  11. What a wonderful project this is Rett. You and your friends are making a real difference for these girls, in a way that most people will never comprehend. Bless you all!

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  12. Oh my Rett, this is wonderful. How easily I forget that so many across the world don't even have this very, very basic need. I have to tell you, I feel extremely convicted about my own lifestyle of extravagance in comparison to these girls.

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  13. Glad to hear Ern is getting his good health back.

    We take the simplest of life's necessities for granted. Never had I thought of the need and you are an angel to help provide this. I think the prints are a great idea adding a bit of femininity to the product. This is what call "brilliant giving". You and your friend need to be a CNN Hero! really.

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  14. Glad to see you post if only for a minute Rett, also pleased to hear that your hubby is doing better. Mine is upstairs right now sick with the flu.

    It is a wonder and a life lesson for those of us who live in a country so rich in resources to think about something so basic that others have no access to. Thank you for helping out in seeing that these young women have the change to stay in school and move forward with their education. Take care.

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  15. What a wonderful project. The simplest things we all take for granted in our lives. You and the others are doing something so special for all those young women.

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  16. Wow, I've never thought about how that would affect them. Hope your efforts are able to help!

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  17. What a wonderful idea and congrats to you Rett. They would be very fussy to make. Glad hubby is feeling better. Take care:)

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  18. Bless you, Rett, for the love and concern you show for the young women in Haiti. I'm sure your help will make a difference in their lives. I'm very happy to read that your DH is feeling better.

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  19. Been thinking about you and the Doc. You are always thinking and doing for others. I admire you, my friend.

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  20. What a wonderful undertaking, Rett! And I am glad to hear that your hubby is better! I hope you are warm and cozy today! We are expecting snow and ice!...hugs...Debbie

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  21. HI RETT!!!
    WHat a great Project you are doing!!!OH my goodness, we take so many things for granted don't we????Simple things like pads and or tampons are a luxury for some, I would love to donate money to such a great cause, can I send it to you???Or where????
    How sad, could we not contact Companies for donations of pads????
    I understand that the washable kind never have to be tossed out, MY Grandma explained to me when I was young, she had to wash hers out, I thought back then, way BACK then How sad, here we are 40 years later and girls are still washing them.
    Please can we help???
    Hugs 2 U,
    jamie

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  22. Bless You! I'm sure there are other sewing quilting projects you'd rather have on your plate~ what an admirable project! I guess now might not be a good time to mention I found this cute quilting novel online in the bargain section of Booksamillion? I thought of you while I was searching & thought it might be fun for you for FFT with all your quilting... Winding Ways Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini but apparently the author does a whole quilt series, you might already be familiar with her?

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  23. Rett, it was so good to hear from you. I'm very thankful that your DH is better and that you didn't catch it. I'm on round 2 of something.

    We have missed you, sweet lady!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  24. This is a wonderful project, Rhett! You are making a HUGE difference in these young girls lives!!!!! Also, thanks for the good advice. We have Sonicare toothbrushes and have the cleaning machine so do sanitize the brushes after every use. It is just a nasty bug that everyone around here seems to have or had, and it takes WEEKS to get rid of it. Take care!!! XO, Pinky

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  25. HI RETT!!!
    MY actual birthday is 1-22
    so I am an aquarius!!!
    Of course I read online today, the stars may be off a bit!!!haha
    You and I share a birthday very close together then!!!
    Can you e-mail me your address, I thought for sure I had it, but just checked and I do not.
    I want to send you a card for your birthday!!!
    Hugs 2 U,
    jamie

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  26. O, my goodness, what an absolutely wonderful cause you are working at, Rett. How sad it is to live in our own little cocoon of a world and not ever think of things like this. I admire you so much.

    Go for the black and white with reds in your bedroom. I think you will never tire of it...I don't.
    xo bj

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  27. Rett,
    I could just cry! Something that we take for granted and in our country is not a big deal, keeps these precious young girls out of school.
    God bless you for doing this to make a huge difference in their lives! Wonderful post!!!!!
    By being God's hands to help, you are truely a living saint!!!!!
    This makes me love you all the more!
    xo Yvonne

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  28. Rett, I am simply amazed. Sorry, I haven't been by in awhile. You are so incredibly wonderful to use your talents in such a helpful and generous way. It is an honor to even blog with you. I cannot imagine living as they do. We are so incredibly blessed, aren't we? Thanks for being such a blessing to these ladies as well! May God bless you!

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  29. Hi Rett, Glad to see you popping in to let us know what you've been up to. What a tremendous project you and your group have undertaken. It is amazing what we take for granted in this country.
    Your pics of the snow in your header are unreal! I'm glad we didn't get all that. So pretty to look at, but I am not a winter person, I guess. I do have one heck of a snow blower when I need it, however. Everyone thinks it belongs to the husband and they comment that he must love his "toys." They laugh when I tell them it belongs to me!!
    Glad your hubby is feeling better. Take care of him and yourself!
    ~ Sue

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  30. What a beautiful table!! Can I be your sister too!!??

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I read them all & each one is so very special to me & I try really hard to return the visit!

fondly,
~Rett~