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The first day of school was always special for Susan Stewart and, with help from a few hundred caring people from across the United States and Canada, the Pittsburg sewing designer and award-winning quilter wants to make it special for the children of Joplin.
She calls the effort Project First Day.
“I remember as a young girl being very excited about the first day of school,” Stewart said. “There was always a new dress, often made by my mother or myself, and a photograph before heading off to school.”
Two days after the May 22 Joplin tornado, she was struck with the idea of providing new, one-of-a-kind hand-made garments for elementary school children who had been impacted by the devastation.
“I sent out this request in my e-mail newsletter, and within minutes it had gone viral,” Stewart said. “I thought people might send one or two outfits. Apparently there are a great many women out there who have both fond memories of special first-day-of-school garb and a great desire to help.”
For instance, one group in Florida sent her more than 250 outfits, complete with new underwear and socks.
“Some individuals are doing 10 or 15 outfits,” Stewart said. “Some people are competing with each other to see who can send the most. It’s a whirlwind. I have no idea how many outfits I have right now.”
However, she estimates that she has received around 500 outfits so far, with another 300 in the mail. Overwhelmingly, people are sending dresses for little girls.
“A children’s pattern designer donated over 300 patterns, and another woman offered to download boys’ T-shirts,” Stewart said. “But they weren’t required to use the patterns. My only requirements were for warm-weather school clothing and that each garment have a special note attached for the child who will receive it.”
She said that some donors had their own first-hand experience with disasters.
“I had a lot of people affected by Hurricane Katrina from Lafayette, La., and others in Nashville who were impacted by floods,” Stewart said.
She added that the owner/manager of the UPS store in Lafayette mailed the box of donations at no charge.
“My goal in this is not primarily to cover the children’s bodies,” Stewart said. “I know there is an excess of used clothing out there. The goal is to make the child feel special, to realize that someone halfway across the country cared specifically about them and spent the time to make something special for a significant day. So many children lost their loved ones, their homes, their parents’ jobs, their moorings in life. We want this to say, ‘I see you, you are not lost. You are special and important.’”
The first day of school was always special for Susan Stewart and, with help from a few hundred caring people from across the United States and Canada, the Pittsburg sewing designer and award-winning quilter wants to make it special for the children of Joplin.
She calls the effort Project First Day.
“I remember as a young girl being very excited about the first day of school,” Stewart said. “There was always a new dress, often made by my mother or myself, and a photograph before heading off to school.”
Two days after the May 22 Joplin tornado, she was struck with the idea of providing new, one-of-a-kind hand-made garments for elementary school children who had been impacted by the devastation.
“I sent out this request in my e-mail newsletter, and within minutes it had gone viral,” Stewart said. “I thought people might send one or two outfits. Apparently there are a great many women out there who have both fond memories of special first-day-of-school garb and a great desire to help.”
For instance, one group in Florida sent her more than 250 outfits, complete with new underwear and socks.
“Some individuals are doing 10 or 15 outfits,” Stewart said. “Some people are competing with each other to see who can send the most. It’s a whirlwind. I have no idea how many outfits I have right now.”
However, she estimates that she has received around 500 outfits so far, with another 300 in the mail. Overwhelmingly, people are sending dresses for little girls.
“A children’s pattern designer donated over 300 patterns, and another woman offered to download boys’ T-shirts,” Stewart said. “But they weren’t required to use the patterns. My only requirements were for warm-weather school clothing and that each garment have a special note attached for the child who will receive it.”
She said that some donors had their own first-hand experience with disasters.
“I had a lot of people affected by Hurricane Katrina from Lafayette, La., and others in Nashville who were impacted by floods,” Stewart said.
She added that the owner/manager of the UPS store in Lafayette mailed the box of donations at no charge.
“My goal in this is not primarily to cover the children’s bodies,” Stewart said. “I know there is an excess of used clothing out there. The goal is to make the child feel special, to realize that someone halfway across the country cared specifically about them and spent the time to make something special for a significant day. So many children lost their loved ones, their homes, their parents’ jobs, their moorings in life. We want this to say, ‘I see you, you are not lost. You are special and important.’”
Now she must figure out a way to get the clothing to the children who need it. Stewart has made some calls, but isn’t sure if she should go through the Joplin public schools, the churches or other organizations.
“If there was a place I could distribute them, I could round up some volunteers and go over to Joplin,” Stewart said. “Or, if there’s an issue with confidentiality, I certainly don’t have to be present. We just want to get the outfits to the children.”
Interested persons or organizations may contact Stewart at 620-232-2936, 620-249-4902 or www.SusanStewartDesigns@hotmail.com.
