Arthur UMC provides sewing machines for Haiti

“Our president, Beth Bartholomew, attended a fall UMW meeting in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and heard our Midwest Mission Distribution Center was collecting used or new operating or non-operating machines for women in Haiti,” reported Marilyn Allison, local vice president. “God placed this need on her heart, and she came back to our unit explaining the opportunities that could be opened for Haitian women.”

 

With sewing machines, Haitian women could make clothing for their families or earn money for housing, better food and medical care by making and selling crafts, clothing or other items. Arthur UMW put out a call in the church and community for sewing machines.

 

“We felt if we collected three or four machines, we would be happy to get them over to the distribution center and on to Haiti,” Allison said. “But with the help of our church newsletter, bulletins and local newspaper, the response was greater than we could ever imagine: We collected more than 60 sewing machines! Our church was overflowing with sewing machines and love for the women of Haiti.

 

“We are so thankful to our church, the Arthur community and all the wonderful people who donated the machines and trucked them to the distribution center in Chatham. We are so excited to be a part of this mission!”