The creativity and caring of 35 lakeside women will have nearly 300 children in four lakeside communities skipping into spring wearing brand new, handmade dresses and vests.
In just two recent weeks the members of the Needlepushers group delivered the clothing gifts to 70 children at the Jardin de Niños Francisco Froebel school in San Juan Cosalá, 26 tots at the Jardin de Niños Farha Mata in Riberas del Pilar, and 78 first-, second- and third-grade students at Escuela Primaria Leona Vicario in Santa Cruz. The women plan one more give-away for this season.
“I had no idea just how much a new dress could mean to these girls until I saw them. The teacher explained that some have never had anything new before – they’ve always worn hand-me-downs, and most of them have seen better days. Now that they have a new dress that is all their own, they are beyond thrilled and just can’t quit twirling and modeling and strutting,” said seamstress Susy Wright.
At each school they visit, the women take an ample supply of the dresses and vests in a variety of sizes, styles, colors and lengths so that they can fit each child with the most appropriate garment possible.
“We make a variety of sizes,” said Wright. “We do everything from size four to size 16. We don’t ever want a child to leave without a new dress or vest or shirt just because we couldn’t fit them. This is just too important to them. Actually it’s pretty important to us too. It’s hard to know who enjoys all of this more – the children or those of us who can provide these gifts for them.”
For decades the members of the Needlepushers club have designed and sewn about 200 dresses a year for Easter-time distribution to the delighted little girls in some of Lake Chapala’s least affluent kinder and primary schools. Most of those years the members used some of the dues, some donated funds, and some of their own money so they could purchase enough knit shirts to ensure each male classmate also had a new garment.
Three years ago the Needlepushers began making and distributing reversible vests for the boys in the classrooms they visited. They select coordinated fabrics so that one side of each vest is bright and colorful while the reverse side is more conservative and subdued.
“When a small boy in a new vest ran up and hugged me and wouldn’t let go, I knew that our new vest venture was going to be just as popular as the dresses,” said Needlepusher Kay Headley.
These women don’t just sew; they also knit and crochet. Their spring dress and vest giveaway is just half of the group’s annual agenda. Before cold weather hits each fall the members go to another round of schools presenting over 150 handmade sweaters to deserving children. “Last fall we were able to finish 180 sweaters for the kids,” added Wright. “It just feels good to know that they will to have something warm to wear during the winter months.
The members of Needlepushers who meet weekly at the Lake Chapala Society (LCS) are carrying on a distinguished history. Neill James (the former owner of the LCS grounds) founded the group in 1962 to honor her mother, who was an avid knitter. “That makes this club one of the oldest volunteer organizations at Lake Chapala,” said Headley. “It seems really right that we continue to meet here in the sala (living room) of Neill James’ home. I realized the other day that 52 years of giving clothes to children, we conceivably could be giving a dress to the great-granddaughter of a woman who received a garment from Needlepushers when she was young.”
The Needlepushers welcome anyone interested in helping the children. Dues in the organization are just 100 pesos per year. During the 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. meetings each Tuesday, members knit sweaters, sew on buttons and lace, and finish hems. Club members are always happy to teach other members to sew, knit or crochet. The group even welcomes those who aren’t adept at needlework but who would enjoy coming to meetings to socialize, help organize materials, design promotional materials or participate in many other ways.
While some members furnish the materials needed for their projects, much of what is needed comes from donations and there is always enough on hand for members to create new garments without buying a thing. Some fabrics and notions can be used immediately, other items are sold so that the money can be combined with cash donations and the dues to purchase needed materials. Nothing goes to waste in this thrifty group. The Needlepushers pass their leftovers, scraps and extra notions to another worthy women’s group – the Original Friends prison doll project.
Donations of yarn, fabric, thread and other notions and patterns can be left in the LCS office. Call (376) 765-7318 to make arrangements to donations to be picked up at other locations.