I enjoyed seeing the partnership with DfGI and Global Links blossom in the last couple of years (Our work for Nicaragua with Global Links last year has had a positive response) as both organizations are near and dear to my heart. All of the kits were delivered to Global Links on June 15th. Global Links has promised to provide us with updates about the kits when they arrive at their destinations. If you remember last year we had to pivot our original plans because of the storms and this year we have had to pivot our plans because of political unrest in Nicaragua. Instead of sending multiple containers to Nicaragua, Global links will be sending one container. The good news is that half of the 3,100 kits we made for them (yes if you’ve been following that’s 100 extra kits) will go to Nicaragua. The other half will be going to Bolivia. We are thrilled! Bolivia is a place we were hoping to get kits in the future, but it worked out to get them there soon. Global Links and DfGI have worked together to make sure that there is someone in Bolivia to provide the educational component that we all know is vital.
We have completed 2,400 kits (two pallets) for the Chad Humanitarian Response Project! These kits were picked up from us on June 22nd and began their journey to the girls who need them. Thanks to the Third Church staff for coordinating that effort!
If you missed previous articles these are links for the Early posts about Chad and Nicaragua and the previous Chad and Nicaragua Up-date. Here is the link for the May 2021 update. Here is the link for the June 2021 Update.
Here are ways anyone can help us:
Make a monetary donation to The Pittsburgh Chapter or to Days for Girls International or purchase needed materials from amazon wish list or a JoAnn Fabric Gift Card, and arrange for a safe drop off. Wish list items can be shipped directly to Third Church. You can contact the Pittsburgh Chapter by emailing pittsburgh@daysforgirls.org too. Our biggest need is women’s underwear.
Like the Pittsburgh Chapter Facebook page to see updates on the projects.
Here are ways you can help if you are able to pick (and drop off) items up at Third Church:
Measure underwear (to help standardize the sizing in multiple brands) and roll it so that it can ship compactly in the kits. Underwear is ready for pick up at the church. Please take only what you think you can manage to finish and drop back off within a week.
Wash flannel with the fragrance-free dye-free detergent provided in each bag. This is an on-going part of the process so it’s ok if it takes a little longer to accomplish this task.
Here is a little shop talk for Days for Girls Teams and Chapters:
Daisies, you have been so generous! Thank you!!! The Pittsburgh Chapter will take late donations and whatever is not used for Chad or Nicaragua will be stored to use for the next group project. Please give us a little time to get our room reorganized before sending more items our way. We hope to be able to store the items we have already received and still have space to sew and host groups in the fall (or when it is safe to have larger groups together).
We can safely have 7 people in the DFG room at church so our leadership and volunteers from other local DFG teams have been working in shifts to pack up the kits and get organized. We fostered these relationships over zoom meetings over the last year and a half. It is wonderful to see our friends in person over the last month (Pittsburgh North, Oakdale, Valencia, Murrysville, and Grove City). All DfG chapters and teams are welcome to join us on zoom, the link can be found on our facebook page.
Period Pastor Pad 