LuoPads
Luo: (Greek) to loose, to set free
A couple years ago a friend shared about a huge need for girls and women overseas. She has been able to personally help meet this need by giving out LuoPads in Africa as well as by facilitating the making of them by volunteers.
LuoPads are washable, reusable feminine hygiene pads.
LuoPads help restore dignity and reveal the hope of Christ to women in the toughest places on earth.
Yes, the best part of this project is how those who receive LuoPads also have the opportunity to hear of the ultimate reason for our hope -- Jesus! Elsa and I dream of having friends over to help make these en masse. But for now we are just managing to put in a little time each week to meet our quota of "1 item sold = 1 LuoPad donated" on our Etsy shop.
Flannel February
Winter is a good time for some of us to find more time to sew. So that must be why we run out of flannel in February! We thought it was just us, but no, Flannel February has become a yearly drive for the volunteers who gather weekly to make LuoPads at the GAiN Logistics Center in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. (See contact info. at the bottom of this post.)
Click here if you want to help supply flannel for this project. Or, if you know me personally, feel free to get in touch about how to send flannel our way. :-)
This photo brings a smile and an ache to those of us privileged to know Lou (the mother of the friend who first told us of LuoPads.) Lou died suddenly last month at a young 74 years. Since losing her husband 12 years ago, she had poured herself into making humanitarian aid and gifts for her daughter to bring overseas. That included 3,955 LuoPads!
The photo above is from their shopping trip last November to stock up on flannel for this winter's sewing.
We don't know why Jesus called Lou home now. She is greatly missed.
But I have already heard of people being inspired by her example. A church is finishing up all the sewing she had waiting. New sewing machines are being purchased for the weekly sewing group in PA. And Elsa and I are more determined than ever to keep making LuoPads as we are able.
Maybe you want to help as well??
The Process
We begin with flannel and towels - used are fine, so long as they're clean and sturdy.
Tracing and cutting are the first steps.
Several layers of towel get sewn onto a piece of flannel.
Another piece of flannel is attached, wrong side out, leaving a gap for turning all inside-out.
Once turned, the little gap is pinned and the whole perimeter is top-stitched.
Lastly, the stitches through the towel are followed once more to hold all layers together.
They are then ready to be sent to Global Aid Network where more volunteers install snaps (unless you have your own snap-machine as Lou did.)
GAiN Global Logistics Center | 1506 Quarry Road | Mount Joy, PA 17552 | 717-285-4220
Oh Hannah! Thank you for honoring my mom like this!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful idea. We always knew when Joey's mom had sent a batch of LuoPads to the GAIN warehouse. It was like her signature of love on each Luopad. She had her own unique way of making them - one side flannel one side cotton. Many women are blessed because of her dedication and generous heart
ReplyDeleteThank you so very much for continuing her legacy.