In Tamra May’s Family and Consumer Science (FCS) classroom, students have sewn dresses to send to Kisumu, Kenya.

The dresses will be sent through the Hopes For Women Foundation (HFWF). 

The HFWF was founded in 2015, and their mission is to help orphaned children receive their basic human necessities. 

The students started making the dresses on Friday, Jan. 13 and finished the dresses during the week of Feb. 6-10. 

One student who has participated in the making of the dresses is senior Ali Blundell.

“My favorite part about making the dress was picking out the material that I wanted and knowing I am helping out a little girl,” Blundell expressed. “Sending out the dresses makes me feel very happy knowing it can help the children there.” 

Another student who has been a part of the making of dresses was sophomore Brianna Dalrymple. 

Dalrymple explained, “Thousands of children are orphans and cannot provide for themselves, so that makes these dresses vitally important to help the children of Kisumu.”

Although these dresses are not able to help every child in need, it is still a pleasant feeling for those involved knowing that they are helping as many children as they can. 

Not only has this project shown those involved the importance of helping those in need but also the ins and outs of sewing. 

For example, “I only had little sewing experience by making tiny art projects here and there, but now I feel like I know all there is to it,” Dalrymple stated. “These skills are truly helpful and can come in handy whenever some jeans need tailoring. I can even make my own clothing if I wanted to.”

The FCS classes will hold a fashion show with the dresses on Friday, Feb. 10 during the halftime of the Lady Outlaws basketball game.

This will showcase the dresses made by students before being sent to Kisumu, Kenya, where the girls will be able to enjoy the dresses that have been made just for them.