Blog
Both the Port-de-Paix and Mole St. Nicolas sewing students are back in the classrooms. The students and teachers are happy to be back and they're picking up where they left off. Currently, both classes are learning how to make pants. Stay tuned to see their new creations!
We're in need of new or gently-used plastic storage bags. We're going to use these to pack fabric and other sewing supplies on the cargo ship, and they'll also be used in the classroom for storage. We generally pack our sewing supplies in crates when we ship, and putting the fabric and supplies in these bags will ensure that they stay clean and dry.
We can use vacuum storage bags or heavy duty vinyl storage bags (like the ones comforters and sheets come in). Both of these items are available on Amazon, and many other retailers. If you are interested in purchasing some for us and having them shipped directly to us (or donating some), please contact us so we can give you our shipping address. We're also accepting donations toward the purchase of these bags. Please write "storage bags" in the notes of the online donation, or on the memo line of any checks.
One of our Port-de-Paix sewing students showing off the masks he’s made.
Covid-19 is making its way across Haiti, and like the United States, it’s hitting cities particularly hard. We know of many suspected cases in Port-de-Paix, which is where one of our sewing schools is located.
Our mission partners in Port-de-Paix, Larry and Diana Owen with Waves of Mercy, have asked the Haiti 323 Project to partner with them to provide masks for people in their community to wear when they go to high traffic locations, like the local markets. Their community often turns to them during emergency situations, and this is yet another way they can serve as first responders to their beloved Haitian community.
The mask project is our first-ever joint project between American seamstresses and tailors, and our Haitian sewing students and graduates.
We’d like to collect 2,000 masks total, and to meet the need, our goal is to try to collect 1,000 masks from Americans and 1,000 from the Haitian sewing students and graduates. Larry and Diana will bring the masks when they return to Haiti.
We know there are many mask styles available, but to maintain some consistency, we’re requesting that everyone use this particular mask style (link to pattern). This is also the style that our students are making. Here’s a short YouTube video showing how to make this particular mask style.
If you, your friends, or your community groups would like to make masks for Haiti, please complete the form below so we can get an idea of how many are interested. If you are unable to sew the masks, but still would like to help, we also welcome pre-cut fabric that our students can sew in Haiti. If you’d like to donate money toward this project, please click here. Any help you can provide is much appreciated!
***Deadline: All masks (or pre-cut fabric) must be mailed (or dropped off at our Sellersburg, Indiana office) by Wednesday, July 15, 2020. When you complete the form, we will send you the shipping or drop off address.***
Thank you very much for your continued support!
