Leadership students make pillowcase dresses for African kids

MARYSVILLE – Kids in orphanages in Africa soon will be wearing colorful pillow-case dresses made by Marysville students.

MARYSVILLE – Kids in orphanages in Africa soon will be wearing colorful pillow-case dresses made by Marysville students.

Judy Whitman, who teaches leadership at Mountain View High School, got her students involved in “Little Dresses for Africa” for the second-straight year.

Senior Kira Bryant took the student lead.

“She’s a maniac when it comes to volunteering,” Whitman said.

Bryant and fellow senior Hailey Stiehl made 11 of the 23 dresses the schools is sending. About 14 students participated.

Whitman said she chose that project because it was inexpensive, about 60 percent of the school receives free or reduced lunches.

The class received donated pillow cases from teachers and students.

Bryant said they dresses were easy to make. Patterns were available at the Little Dresses for Africa website. There are small, medium and large sizes. They cut out the pattern and the arms and put elastic in and sewed straps on.

“It was my first time sewing,” Bryant said.

Class members asked for donations to pay for shipping of the dresses.