Widow’s Hope to start business for widows in Uganda

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Designs from mid-Michigan will travel across the globe in April.

The Widow’s Hope project, through nonprofit Heart Cry International, will host a fashion show supporting the group’s efforts to help impoverished women from Uganda sew clothes for profit.

“Widow’s Hope was started to keep children with their mothers,” said Heart Cry International Founder Carla Ives.

Those who qualify as a widow have lost their husband through death or abandonment, Ives said.

“Right now they only make handcrafted jewelry, so right now Heart Cry International is working with a ministry to provide sewing machines to the women,” said Sam Hegeman, Heart Cry International intern and South Rockwood senior.

At present, the women have an eBay business established by Heart Cry International so they can take steps to become independent and self-sufficient.

“These women have no way to earn a living,” Ives said.

Pattern submissions for the fashion show are open to anyone in the form of a paper pattern and sketch along with a $2 donation to the cause.

Entries should be sent to the Heart Cry International office, 221 Bellows St.

The deadline is March 2, and on March 12, voting on each submission will begin.

The winning patterns will be sent and sewn in Uganda after appearing in the Widow’s Hope fashion show.

Heart Cry International is also working on another project in Uganda and one in Nigeria, Ives said.

Submissions should fit one of four categories: shirt, skirt, shorts or dress.

Those who wish to get involved with the nonprofit can meet up at World Changes at 9 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month.

“I like to have people streamline with one project,” Ives said.

Ives said Heart Cry International is always looking for volunteers. Internships overseas are available.

“I would love to have as many students as possible,” Ives said.