For 14 years the Sewing Sisters of Lucas Christian Reformed Church in McBain, Mich., have been supplying Project Canefire and other ministries with upcycled dresses to distribute on mission trips.
Sandy Pluger, one of the sewing women and an organizer of the group, was inspired to start the work after traveling to the Dominican Republic in 2011 as a chaperone on a Christian school mission trip. “We were overwhelmed with the needs we saw,” Pluger said.
Knowing she couldn’t go every year to serve, “‘What can I do?’” Pluger asked herself. She said the idea to sew dresses came from another mom who chaperoned on that trip and had brought simple pillow-case dresses along to share.
Sewing Sisters began with about five women meeting at Lucas CRC, creating dresses from thrifted fabrics to send along on the Northern Michigan Christian School annual trips. By sharing updates in the church bulletin, word spread, and now about 18 women contribute their skills making upcycled dresses in sizes from infant to adult between fall and spring each year.
Project Canefire, a more than 30-year-old endeavor dedicated to improving lives in the Dominican Republic and Central America by installing wells to access safe, potable water; constructing essential buildings; and teaching valuable, marketable skills, is one organization that distributes the Sewing Sisters’ dresses. Paul Benthem, a lifelong member of Lucas CRC, has chaired the nonprofit for more than 25 years and serves on the well team. Two years ago he shipped a container of supplies and equipment that included 500 of the handmade dresses, which the teams will share at the completion of a well, offer to a local organization that ministers to orphanages, and leave with local pastors to distribute as needed.
Pluger said a Michigan-based Catholic organization called HART (Haiti and Africa Relief Team) and another organization that works in Guatemala have also distributed some of the group’s dresses. “I always contact the different groups in the winter and give them the option if they want to take them … on their trips.”