KITS TO UGANDA

HALF A SUNDAY

Our December workday was just four hours on a Sunday afternoon.  In that stretch of time, 150 life-changing kits were assembled.  They'll be in the hands of girls in Uganda in just a few weeks.  These are some of the folks taking the kits on a medical mission--as they finish packing all the kits in vacuum sealed bags, then duffle bags.

We also got lots of snaps affixed, flannel pressed, shield fabric and PUL cut out on the Accuquilt, pockets cut, pressed and topstitched, and liners serged.

HERE'S AN IDEA

Scraps.  We sure do have leftovers!  This year, we are raffling off (the drawing is May 28) a cheerful quilt made from our fabric that's too small to use for our kit components.  

Another chapter came up with this idea of selling their too-small fabric pieces when they've got space at a quilt show:

In October, we were offered a booth at a quilt show. We took the opportunity to die cut and package a small fraction of our scraps. We made quilter's "jelly rolls" and "charm packs" and took in $500. (The suggested donation prices were $10. and $5., respectively). Sorry for the poor photo.

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For us, I think we'd just do the strips, because 5" squares are big enough for pockets.  I can envision color themes . . . .  And it's a great use for the donated fabrics that are too light, or have faces, etc.!

And if you're interested in winning our raffle quilt, or selling some tickets for it, please let me know!  Lots of ticket sales mean more girls' lives improved with kits!  All the money goes to supplies for kits.

REMOVING SERGER STITCHING

Here's a helpful YouTube video on removing serger stitching!

BACK TO REGULAR SCHEDULE

Our November and December workdays were on different days, but beginning with the new year, we'll be back to our regular schedule.  That means we'll meet on the first Saturday of each month, at Our Sewing Room, on 5th and Main in Springfield, from 10:30 to 5ish.  Do check your emails though, and this blog, because things do come up--like snow and ice!  We have had weather cancellations in the past.

A UNIQUE BAG FOR EACH GIRL

Our Eugene/Springfield Chapter has been unusually fortunate to receive very generous donations of gorgeous fabric, mostly from the stashes of area quilters.  When we make kits for a distribution, my goal is always to have each bag be unique.  Because the contents of the bags are of such a personal nature, I hope there will be no chance of girls inadvertently getting their bags mixed up.  We have a couple of distributions of 50 and 150 kits coming up soon, so I spent a few pleasant hours enjoying all those lovely fabrics as I sorted our supply of bags by color, then pulled one of each unique fabric.  We have well over 200 different fabrics sewn into bags, shown in the photos below,  roughly grouped in color families.

Aren't those prints lovely?  Looking at the bags in the photos, I've found one pair of duplicates in this last photo (now removed in real life).  Can you find any other repeats in any of the pictures?

GIVING TUESDAY

I do think November is flying by faster than most months do.  I'm already seeing lots about Black Friday, etc.  Today was the first notice/reminder I've gotten about Giving Tuesday.  It's the week after Thanksgiving.

 If you're inspired to make a monetary donation to our Days for Girls Chapter, here are three ways you could do it.

1.  Buy raffle tickets for our fundraising quilt (we keep 100%).  You could win that cheerful quilt.

2.  Write a check to Days for Girls and give it to me (we keep 100%). You get a receipt.

3.  Make an online donation via the current CountHERin fundraiser (we receive 90%).  You get a receipt.

Your generosity--time, supplies, and funds--is so appreciated.  We exist because of you!

AARP PURPOSE PRIZE

Days for Girls founder and CEO Celeste Mergens has been recognized by AARP, receiving one of its five 2017 Purpose Prizes.  

The AARP Purpose Prize™ award honors extraordinary individuals who use their life experience to make a better future for all. 

"The AARP Purpose Prize is all about a new story of aging — focusing on experience and innovation and the idea that our aging population is an untapped resource full of possibilities,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.

“AARP Purpose Prize winners and nominees are role models. They are makers and doers who are out there creating new solutions that make the world a better place for people of all ages.”

Watch the video here.

I GOT THAT FLOW

Another video.  I'm not sure how to describe this one!  In your face?

FULL HOUSE IN NOVEMBER

Our workday on November 11 was busy, to say the least.  We had 32 people sign in, and had to break out the folding chairs.  

I am absolutely thrilled at how much was accomplished!  First timers worked alongside seasoned volunteers, and we had 13 Alpha Phi Omega students from the University of Oregon join us, some of whom helped out last year too.  

I'm always delighted at the variety and quantity of tasks being accomplished by people with different skills and interests. 

DECEMBER WORKDAY

Because of conflicts, we won't be meeting on a Saturday in December.  However, if you're able, please join us in the afternoon on Sunday, December 10.  We will be at Our Sewing Room, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES

Of course, this is heartbreaking.  I'm going to check into sending some components to the DFG person in Crete--she says she needs shields and liners the most--they have bags and can buy the rest of the kit contents there to avoid extra shipping costs.

ANY TRAVELERS OUT THERE?

I think I've mentioned this to many of you before, but if you're traveling out of the US (or have a friend who is) and have weight allowance available to check an extra bag or two, please let me know.  There are two reasons:

• The obvious--transporting kits for distribution--we'd try to find a group needing kits where you're going.  They'd meet you to get the kits.
• Sending fabric to non-US DFG teams and chapters, who pay MUCH more for fabric than we do, and often have very limited choices too.  They'd send me (via PayPal) funds to buy fabric for them, and meet you to pick up the fabric.

If you're heading to Crete (see PLIGHT above), that would be extra fantastic!

And of course, we're delighted to have you bring back your little hotel soaps.  One of those goes in each kit.

SECOND SATURDAY THIS MONTH

I hope you can join us on the 2nd Saturday this month.  Come to Our Sewing Room, 5th & Main, between 10:30 and 4:30.  Scroll down to previous posts for details.

BEST COSTUME?

I read this on Facebook the day after Halloween:

Last night, after I thought all the trick-or-treaters were gone, a boy about 12 years old came to the house. He was dressed all in red. Instead of saying, "Trick-or-treat" he said, "I'm your period, sorry I'm late!"

He got the rest of my candy and he restored all my faith in his generation!!

A WORD FROM KOFI ANNAN:

SECOND SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER

FROM COLORADO SPRINGS

"Having a period shouldn't be in the way of living your life."  

Read news coverage of International Day of the Girl and the Colorado Springs team here.

TABOO SUBJECT

It's normal.  It's necessary.  It's part of life for half of the population.  But worldwide, so many people avoid the subject of menstruation.  They find the topic of feminine hygiene to be awkward, uncomfortable and/or embarrassing. Now check out this video!

ANOTHER TWEAK TO A PATTERN

The flannel liners for our Heavy Flow kits have been redesigned.  I will explain to any of you who are interested in making some.   

No change to the regular liners. We'll still cut those 8.75" inches, so they finish at 8.5".

GOLD STANDARD SHIELD

Days for Girls just published this--how to tell if your shield is perfect:

WHAT DOES IT COST TO MAKE A KIT?

Each of our kits uses flannel for the liners, cotton for the bag and shields, PUL (the moisture barrier fabric) for inside the shields, grosgrain ribbon for the drawstrings, 2 Ziploc gallon-size freezer bags, 2 pair of undies, a washcloth, and a bar of soap.  One of the other chapter leaders figured out the per-kit cost of supplies to be $10 to $12.  I'm by nature very frugal, so never pay full retail for anything, so we are probably a bit below that.  Plus, we have some wonderful supporters who regularly drop off fabric leftover from quilting projects, washcloths or undies they've picked up on sale, etc.  What we can't use, because of fiber content, pattern or color, we pass on to other nonprofits.  The biggest part of making our kits is all the hours put into that process.  Without these generous volunteer hours, we would have been able to reach far fewer girls.

We do not charge the recipients for our kits.  We request a donation from the group taking/distributing them.  The gold standard is $10, but some groups donate much less or occasionally nothing.  Some fundraise specifically for the kits they'll be taking.  One paid more, wanting to help us reach more girls than just their distribution would.  The kits are always free to the girls and women  who receive them.

DONATIONS

Any donation you make, in supplies or money, helps girls stay in school longer, marry later, have children later, and her education boosts not only her family's economic status, but also that of her community and nation.  In developing nations, there's a  direct correlation between low education level of the mother and infant and early childhood mortality.  I'm so inspired by the impact our efforts will make on current AND future generations.

If you have supplies to donate, easiest way is to bring them to one of our workdays at Our Sewing Room.  You can also drop them off there other days, marking them for Days for Girls.  

If you want to make a donation online, through our current fundraiser, that's at donate.daysforgirls.org/Eugene. This fundraiser will have weekly challenges through December 4th.

If you give me cash or a check (made out to Days for Girls), it will go entirely to our chapter, and there's no deduction for credit card fees with that method of donating.

Anytime you want a receipt, just ask me!

I even have little donation certificates I can give you, notifying someone that a donation has been made in their name.  

These were popular a couple of years ago at Mother's Day.  Maybe it's time to bring them out again.  Would you like to make a donation to DFG in someone's honor this holiday season?  Perhaps as a stocking stuffer?  Just let me know.  I have them with me at workdays.  They're 4.25" x 5.5",  $10 each.  It's a great way to let more people know about Days for Girls while helping additional girls.

And here's a DFG graphic that has a few statistics you can share:

Days for Girls and what we do is changing that, one girl and one kit at a time. I sincerely thank you for your part in this!

SECOND SATURDAY IN NOVEMBER

Please remember, because of a scheduling conflict at the wonderful Our Sewing Room, we'll be  gathering on the second Saturday in November, rather than on the first.  Come for as much time as fits into your schedule, between 10:30 and 4:30.

If you're a top-notch sewer, please bring your machine (with an empty bobbin) or serger. We have thread!  For everybody else, we have many more hours worth of essential non-sewing/non-serging jobs that need doing.

Quality over quantity!

DO WATCH THIS VIDEO!

This one pretty much says it all.  The 2016 numbers need updating, but it really covers what we do and why.  

CountHERin!

Days for Girls has set a goal of reaching a million girls with kits by the end of 2017.  CountHERin is the fundraiser supporting this.  They're going to have different weekly challenges, and I urge you to look into them.  The one that began Tuesday for Week One, asks each person to approach 10 people to donate $10 to our chapter.  A kit contains $10 worth of supplies and gives a girl the ability to participate in life fully for 3 years or more.  Can you sponsor one girl's kit?   Video of some of the girls who've received our kits here.

NOVEMBER WORKDAY---CHANGE

Although we normally meet on the first Saturday of the month, that won't be happening next month. Please join us on the second Saturday in November, the 11th, anytime after 10:30.  As usual, we'll be at Our Sewing Room on the corner of 5th and Main in Springfield.

PLEASE READ

I hope you will take the time to read this article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

OUR RAFFLE QUILT

Jackie and I hung the quilt outside Our Sewing Room last night and offered raffle tickets to the folks wandering by during the Second Friday Art Walk.  Fall is definitely here--my fingers were so cold by the time we were done!  

Please let me know if you have a place where you (or I) could sell tickets for this cheerful quilt!  It can make an appearance, or you can take a photo with you.  It's a nice way to get to talk to people about Days for Girls.  Last night we met some people who said they were interested in helping out.

Can you take a photo and a batch of tickets and sell some yourself?  Friends, family, work?  Email, Facebook?  Let me know.

Do you sew for DFG at home?

CHANGES TO KITS

Days for Girls appreciates and relies on feedback from the field to make sure every part of our kits is the best it can be.  Because of all that research and feedback, changes are occasionally made that the DFG experts feel will improve the kits and better serve the girls and women who use them.  In 9 years of existence, DFG has made 29 major and minor tweaks to our kit components.  Some (since I've been involved) have to do with quantity of items included, shape, dimensions, wrappers, how to assemble kits, patterns of fabric prints, and drawstrings we use.  

The nonprofit DFG headquarters used to make the kit instructions available to anyone on their website.  Then, as recently as last year, they asked you to sign in with your email address anytime you wanted to access a pattern or directions, and agree to only use it according to DFG guidelines.  Now, you need to be a team or chapter leader, or register as a solo sewer.  There were a few problems with the easy access--one was people using DFG patterns to make kits to sell for profit.  Another was similar--people making the supplies to sell in competition with our Days for Girls Enterprises in their countries.  

I'm seeing a few problems with our volunteers not having access to the patterns.  Mainly, they're not aware when a change has been made, and if they're not sewing with us at our monthly workdays, may make many of a changed item without realizing that the pattern or directions have been revised.  

I've asked headquarters if they could list the most recent revision date for each item on their website.  We'll see if that happens.

In the meantime, please know that the size and sewing instructions for the drawstring bags were changed a few months ago.  We use 5/8" polyester grosgrain for the drawstrings (no more drawstrings sewn of fabric, and we won't be buying anymore twill tape--it doesn't last as long) , and they're a longer length now too.  

And as a matter of fact, we get a great price on the grosgrain in a riot of colors, so actually prefer that you turn in your bags without drawstrings, so we can pick the perfect color for them.  We have a wonderful non-sewing volunteer who cuts, seals and inserts the grosgrain.  

So, if you're somebody who occasionally brings or sends us items you've sewn at home, please contact me about updating your patterns and instructions.  

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

This is so important.  I've heard people infer that because the recipient of a kit had nothing before, anything we give her is an improvement.  I disagree. My philosophy is that she deserves the very best we can possibly provide!

What does this mean for you?  Checking your work!  Make sure your measurements are exactly correct.  Evaluate your sewing/serging as you go, checking each item for messed up thread tension, skipped stitches or screwy serging, and carefully evaluating when you finish, making sure you've caught all fabrics in a seam, removed thread tails and basting stitches and that the finished size is right.  If you can't make it perfect in every way, please set it aside.  We occasionally have an opportunity to use these seconds for women with a short-term need, such as after a natural disaster.  A few weeks ago, I sent three boxes of useable but not DFG-perfect components for women in Houston.

For many, if not most, of the girls and women who receive our kits, this is the nicest thing they've ever had.  Let's make sure we've followed all the guidelines and done our absolute best work.  

VIDEOS TO WATCH

YouTube has dozens great videos for you to watch: how-tos, introductions, history, distributions, workdays, thank yous, etc.  Just type in Days for Girls in the YouTube search bar and you'll see lots of choices.  One I like to show occasionally is narrated by an actress, condensing lots of feedback we've gotten from the recipients into one short video.  I hope you'll take the time to watch this.

DO YOU SEW SHIELDS?

Some machines have trouble on the thick corners of our shields.  Of course we always recommend that you diagonally cut off the corners on the long ends of the PUL before layering the parts, which removes some of the bulk.  

If your machine still struggles, here's a tip from a volunteer in St. Louis:  

I made a little video to show how I edgestitch the corners of my shields. I taped together some cardboard (my red jean-a-ma-jig was too thick) to help me get around the corners without getting stuck. Thought someone else might like this tip. You can see how nicely they turn out.    NOTE:  It appears that you have to click on the circular arrow in the rectangle below to get to her video.

KENYA PLASTIC BAG BAN

Official Update: Kenya Plastic Bag Ban

Dear Teams & Chapters!

Thank you for waiting patiently on solutions to the Kenya plastic bag situation. It has been determined after further communications and the latest information we have received, from Kenya, that we will not include any plastic bags in DfG Kits for Kenya. There are several containment options currently being prototyped. One is a small PUL pouch constructed with 1/4"wide french seams to the outside. A water sealant at the seam line is on the inside. These are not yet official patterns as more than 20 suggestions (thank you) are currently being reviewed. Until we have finalized the replacement option, please do not include any replacement for the plastic bag. 

We expect that within coming weeks we will have determined best practice going forward. 

REGIONAL CONFERENCE

In Lebanon last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak about Days for Girls  to a regional conference of Methodist women.  The organizer had heard me speak elsewhere, and shared our supply wishlist with the attendees in advance.  I went home with wonderful donations!  Thank you for your generosity, ladies!

OUR NEXT WORKDAY

We'd love to have you join us for our first Saturday workday at Our Sewing Room, October 7th.  If you sew or serge, please bring your machine and basic sewing supplies.  If you can help us with all the non-sewing tasks, we welcome you also, and will put you to work!
We'll be there from 10:30 to about 4:30 or 5:00.  Come for as much time as works for you.

FUNDRAISING FOR OUR CHAPTER

RAFFLE QUILT!

Last week our first-ever raffle quilt was completed and ready to greet the world!  The blocks were foundation pieced by volunteers in our chapter.  It's a color-drenched double-bed sized string quilt, made with leftover cotton fabric from our bags and shields.

The purpose of this project is to raise money to support and enable our kit-making mission.  The materials in each Days for Girls kit we give cost about $10 with our focus on watching the sales for the best prices.

We need you, the folks who already know about Days for Girls, to take a stab at selling tickets.  I  will take it to places where I've been asked to speak about Days for Girls, and hope you know of some good places too.   I've put together packets of 30 and 60 tickets with a photo of the quilt for you to take, to offer tickets to your family, friends and coworkers.  I suspect many of them already know about Days for Girls from you, and are likely to want to help. Or you might like to buy some for gifts.  Lions, Rotary, and other service clubs, quilt shops and shows, etc. are other possibilities--I hope you all will help in this effort.  Sometimes it's as simple as putting the photo, tickets and information on the staff room table.  On the evening of Friday, the 13th of October, we plan to be in front of Our Sewing Room during the Springfield Art walk.  Please let me know if you can help sell tickets that evening.

Tickets are $1. each, or 6 for $5.  We are planning to draw the winning ticket on Menstrual Hygiene Day (the one with the significant date), May 28th (5 days in a period, 28 in a cycle).  MHD  is an annual awareness day, originated in Germany, that aims to break taboos and raise awareness about the importance of good menstrual hygiene management  for women and adolescent girls worldwide.

#CountHERin

Yesterday Days for Girls International announced the 2017 fundraising campaign.  They've stated their goal of reaching one million girls by the end of this year, and this campaign reflects that.  To donate to our chapter, you just go here. Your donation will stay with our Eugene/Springfield group.

This video introduces the CountHERin campaign.

You can donate in honor of or in memory of somebody, and can add a comment to your donation.  You can also be listed as anonymous if you'd like.

If you'd like to make a donation in this campaign, please do so by the end of 2017.  You'll immediately receive a printable receipt for tax purposes.  Every $10 donated provides a kit that will keep another girl in school!

So, unexpectedly, September 2017 has brought not one but two different ways to support our efforts financially.  If you buy raffle tickets, you have a chance to win a great quilt.  If you make an online donation on the CountHERin site, you'll get a receipt if you'd like to list your donation on your tax form.  **And then, there's always the wonderful old-fashioned cash or check that you can hand or send to me (Checks should be made out to Days for Girls).**

Of course, our money goes even further, thanks to all the generous donations of underwear, washcloths, fabric, Ziplocs, etc.  If you're interested in in-kind donations, please ask for our wishlist for specific needs (You can do that at the end of this blog).

RAPID GROWTH

Days for Girls only formed in October of 2008, but the rate  of growth continues to skyrocket.  As of last week, Days for Girls kits have been provided to 802,527 women and girls in 114 nations, thanks in part to a 25% increase in 2016 alone!  The goal is to have distributed one million by the end of 2017.

I find that to be amazing.  I've been gratified at the number of dedicated continuing and new volunteers for our Eugene/Springfield Chapter.  A wonderful benefit of being part of this group is the great people, so generous of their time, who gather at our workdays--we do have a good time and accomplish so much!

FEEDBACK

I'm often asked if we hear from the recipients, and the answer is yes.    The head of a chapter in Connecticut just returned to Kenya last weekend, and shared this feedback: 

I have interviewed over forty women in the Il Ngwesi community. They report the DFG education has changed their lives. Now men and women have the tools to talk to each other. Before they did not have a common language. They report the kits are in fine condition, are easy to wash with no stains including the light colored liners, they are good for the earth, save them money, are comfortable and they always have them available. Yes they use the plastic bag to wash. They are very grateful to Days for Girls!

And this, Kenyan girls comparing life before and with DFG kits: 

Today I met with 5 girls from the Chumvi Primary School grade 8 who I interviewed 6 months ago. Stella, Grace, Angela, Priscilla, and Miriam. 

They have had their kits over one year. I also interviewed 3 girls from Chumvi Secondary School ages 16-17 Jacqueline, Mary, and Sophia. These girls have had there kits for over three years and I know them. All kits are in fine condition and have their components. The younger girls had their kits. The older girls confirmed the condition. 


I loved hearing them talk together. They agree and say, the school pads are very thin and they don't have enough. When at home they use cloth and rags to tie their pads and leak a lot. Since the DFG pads none have missed School. They say they are colorful, save money, easy to wash and care for, cause no pollution, and they never leak in class.

OUR NEXT WORKDAY

Please join us if you can at Our Sewing Room on the first Saturday in October.  Drop in any time after 10:30--and we're there until 4:30 or 5:00.  If you sew or serge, please bring your machine and basic sewing supplies.  Street parking is 2 hours, but the bank lot across the street is available to us on Saturdays.