Red Tent Project

***NOTE: I know that several moms read this with their children...this is a sensitive subject. Please use discernment reading about this ministry this with your kids.***

*UPDATE- the party is on SATURDAY June 5th! I got the day wrong (thanks Melissa!).*

I read the below blog post this morning and knew immediately God was calling me to this. I will be hosting a Red Tent Project party at my home on Saturday, June 5th if you can sew (basic knowledge) and have a sewing machine you can bring. We will have dessert, hot teas, prayer time for these beautiful young ladies, and make these projects. Please leave a comment or email me if you are interested in coming...frances@desertflowerministries.com.

Here is the original post from a blog friend...

our agency felt burdened by the young girls’ overwhelming need for sanitary pads in ethiopia.  i don’t think i need to explain what a HUGE problem this is.  many girls are considered “unclean” for a week each month and are unable to go to school or work.

here are some facts:

ordinary woman are unable to afford basic sanitary protection.
one pack of sanitary pads costs more than 50% of the average monthly wage for women.
millions of african women are forced to replace tampons/pads with newspapers and dirty rags.
     • this can lead to vaginal infections for which there is no available medication.
     • these vaginal infections are often mistaken to be sexually transmitted infections leading to social embarrassment and domestic violence.
wives and mothers are unable to work when they have their periods, further hindering already impoverished families.
girls are forced to take time off school, further jeopardizing their education.
     • because of the economic and cultural crises in africa, its schools serve as more than academic centers.  they provide community resources where young people receive basic care and services, such as food programs, clean water and counseling.
we are currently working on a project to provide the girls at our agency’s transition home with reusable menstrual pads.  we are starting with the older girls first.  there are about 30 girls who need the pads and we’d like to send 3 of the outer envelopes and 6 of the inner pads to each girl – so we’ll need 90 envelopes and almost 200 pads!

here is where i need your help…i don’t know a thing about sewing, but i am very passionate about this cause.  i am calling all my friends (adoption-related or not) to consider helping these young women have a safe way to protect themselves each month. 

if you are interested, i will send you the pattern and a photo of the pads.  i have been told that they are fairly simple to make.  there is a family that is willing to carry them to ethiopia next month, so if you have some time between now and June 15th and would be willing to help, please let me know (you can leave a comment here or e-mail me).  i will pay for the shipping once you are ready to send them off.

please consider helping these sweet girls.  it is a very simple way to make a HUGE difference!

**  and please feel free to re-post this information (or link to my blog) to help get the word out **

Let me know if God is calling you to this and if you want to come join the party! Even if you don't sew, but want to come and join the fun and PRAY with us...COME ON:)