ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA -- What do you do with all of those used clothing items like t-shirts, flannel shirts, pillow cases?  Create dresses and diapers for children across that world.  Used pillowcases, t-shirts, blankets, and flannel items are being recycled to create color dresses and more by a group from Aberdeen First United Methodist (UMC).

Photo: These ladies are in the business of recycling, reusing, and repurposing for the “Sowing Seed” ministry.  Submitted photo.

A new ministry of Aberdeen First UMC is called “Sowing Seeds Sewing Ministry”.  A group of ladies meets twice a month to sew items to be sent along with global mission teams travel to Sierra Leone and Haiti.

Little girls’ dresses are made from pillowcases.  The dresses are embellished with lace, rickrack, and other trims.  Each dress is finished with a gathering at the neck made from ribbons. 

Diapers are sewn from t-shirts and flannel materials.  The diapers are bundled together to distribute to mothers for infants.

Two new sewing machines were provided for the “Sowing Seeds” ministry.  The funds for the new sewing machines were purchased through resources allocated by the Bremer Mission Grant, distributed by the Dakotas United Methodist Foundation and the Aberdeen First UMC Memorial Committee. 

For more information, contact Karen Armstrong at karenkay760@hotmail.com