Men help sew dresses
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RICHLAND, Wash. — Opportunities for Church humanitarian projects took on a unique twist this fall when Mauren Jones was assigned to be the humanitarian project coordinator for her Relief Society in the Columbia Ward, Richland Washington Stake. After poring over the guidelines sent from Salt Lake City, Sister Jones was convinced that this project was not "gender-specific" and decided to involve the men of the ward in this endeavor.
She was asked to oversee the making of 100 dresses to send to the LDS Humanitarian Services Center in Salt Lake City. The goal was set to have these dresses completed in about six weeks. Each week as she visited priesthood meeting, she took the T-shirt dresses and regular dresses to show the men. Her response from the priesthood was very gratifying. No one said "no." Even with no experience in sewing, men were willing to participate. The bishop of the ward set the tone. Gary Richardson donated enough material for his wife to sew 10 dresses. He sewed one of the dresses from start to finish.
Although Bishop Richardson had taken a home economics class in high school and sewed an apron, this project was still "stepping out of his comfort zone," as it was for other men who participated.
Approximately 183 hours of volunteer work were donated. Some 20-25 women, with the help of the men, sewed 94 new dresses.
