Nicaragua Shoebox Project

 
Two of the dozens of groups in the area who are working to support our effort in Nicaragua were the subject of a news feature on channel 7 Tuesday.

Women from St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Cedar Falls along with members of PEO Chapter KL, also of Cedar Falls, were interviewed for a news story which ran on KWWL. The group has filled 24 layettes for the pregnant women who pass thru Refuge Belin there while having a baby.

Rotarian Patty Achey Cutts, who is a member of both organizations and who will soon make her third trip to Nicaragua, organized the effort.

One unique aspect of their work is turning tee shirts into cloth diapers and dresses. Many of the tee shirts were donated by our own Tunis Den Hartog. Sewing the diapers and assembling the layettes was done in the church basement. Much of the financial support came from a $1,000 grant from the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa to support mothers and babies.

The PEO sisters and church members are two of many, many such groups, many of whom work year round without any publicity and who have made huge differences in Nicaragua where the assistance is truly needed. St. Luke's has been supporting the shoebox program since it began in 2002. This year the rather small congergation has filled over 50 boxes and donated baseballs, gloves and other items. Five members of the congregation plan to be on the trip this year, two for the first time.

You can view the video here.

 
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