Erma Turcotte wanted to do something to help someone else, but wasn’t looking for a standard, everyday type of charitable act to do.
“With all the heartache in the world, I wanted to help alleviate that somehow,” said the Keremeos woman recently.
“I don’t have a lot of money, but I like to sew,” she continued. “I heard about an organization called ‘Little Dresses for Africa,’ and right away I knew this was for me,” she said.
Turcotte began sewing the dresses about six months ago and has put together about 400 so far. She hopes to have sewn 1,000 by the end of the year.
Turcotte has the dresses delivered to Vancouver by a friend, where they are taken through a church to Victoria to be distributed by an organization known as Compassionate Canada, who sends them to third world countries, wherever they are needed.
“Anyone wishing to sew or to donate new or gently used pillowcases, sheets, or any cotton or cotton blended fabric or notions, please call me at 250-499-7858,” Turcotte asked, advising that such materials may also be dropped off at Subway Restaurant in Keremeos.
“I like to know that every dress is giving each little girl who gets one hope and cheer in their difficult lives,” she said.