THE Holy Trinity Church in the Dilton Marsh Memorial Hall is hosting the fifth Sewing Day on Saturday 23rd September from 10am to 4pm. The sewing days have been supporting the work of the Pachamama Project, a volunteer-run, not-for-profit charity who make reusable sanitary pads for refugees around the world who are dealing with period poverty.
Period poverty is the lack of availability and access to sanitary products which causes many women to resort to using scraps of tissue or even socks which can lead to infections. The project was started in 2020 and has now sent 100,000 pads to women and girls who need them the most in the UK, Lebanon, Greece, Turkey, Uganda and the US.
Sewing Day organisers say, “We are very keen that this event should be open to all – it is a social occasion with an end product with people coming for as long as they can spare the time, whether that’s half an hour or all day.
“If you are able to bring sewing machines, scissors and pins that would be very helpful, but the need to sew is not important, we need people to cut out the pieces, assemble the parts, iron or fit poppers. There will be a job suitable for everyone. Tea and coffee, and hopefully cake, will be available but please bring your own lunch.
“We do hope you will be able to come and help. The sewing days have, so far to date, made 500 pads, taking 85 women out of period poverty.”
For those who want to help make pads, but are unable to attend the sewing days, kits of materials have been put together to be sewn at home. If you are interested in helping contact Lynne at office@whtministry.org.uk
To learn more about the project visit https://www.thepachamamaproject.org