Sew Good: Retired Teachers Honor Women Who Turn Old Sheets Into Clothes For Needy

Two women are being honored for their sewing to help clothe the needy.

(Left photo) Beverly Strasemeier and Cathy Mund, presenter. (Right photo) Cathy Mund, presenter, and Marilyn Warneford. 

(Dearborn County, Ind.) - The Dearborn County Retired Teachers proudly honored two of their own at the association's June meeting.

Honored were Bev Strasmeier and Marilyn Warneford. Both ladies are avid sewers and both have been active participants in the Association’s Pillowcase Dresses and Shorts project, which transforms regular and fitted sheets into clothing.

Marilyn, a former school office secretary, has sewn over 1,100 shorts for the project and Beverly, a former Manchester School teacher, has sewn over 900 shorts.  Both ladies have given many loving hours and days to working on this project, both at the Community Center, where the sewing group meets and in their own home.

The Pillowcase Dresses and Shorts project has been a long-standing project for the Dearborn County Retired Teachers.  Begun originally by members of the Hamline Chapel, the retired teachers took over the project in 2011 under the leadership of Gerri Barber and Jean Vaughan. The project has sent dresses and shorts to thousands of children throughout the world.  Each year dresses and shorts are given to American missionary groups going oversea to distribute to the many children to which their groups minister. In the past these countries include Haiti, Brazil, and Tanzania, as well as many nations in Africa.

To make the dresses and shorts, the retired teachers receive materials and money from churches, individual, and other organizations, as well as the Association’s members themselves. 

The Pillowcase Dresses and Shorts project was a state Indiana Retired Teachers Association award winning project for the retired teachers in 2012. The Dearborn County Retired Teachers Association is an affiliate of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.

The ladies meet weekly at the Lawrenceburg Community Center to work on the project. One does not need to know how to sew to be helpful, as there are many non-sewing activities to do.

If interested in helping with this project, contact DCRTA President Jim Pierce at (812) 584-5339.