Dunedin Man's Charity Sends Latest Shipment to Kenya

Dec. 5 was a grateful day for Al Barrett and countless Kenyan women he has never met.

Barrett, the 30-year owner of Dunedin Canvas Works and founder of Threads of Hope, finished loading a huge shipment of sewing machines and material that is now on its way to outfit an up-and-coming women's sewing center that will teach new life skills to a dwindling nomadic people in Maasai, Kenya.

Construction of the sewing center is slated to begin in February 2013.

Barrett and his wife's charity, "Threads of Hope," has sent sewing machines to 14 countries across the world, with a focus in Africa.

The following is an excerpt from a Dec. 6 letter Barrett wrote describing his gratitude after nine days loading the shipment at Dunedin Canvas Works.

Friends,

After many months (all year of collecting treadle sewing machines and other sewing machines, material, and items for the sewing center) we finally got it all packed and shipped yesterday. It took Powell builders a day to build the crates and nine days to pack the load. We sent two industrial machines from my shop that I used for years that will sew the heavy stuff and will last for many years; good materials and threads, electric panels and wire and power source. It is all going in a 40-foot container we are sharing with Dr. Graber along with medical equipment for the new Maternal Health Care Center.

Exciting to see all this finally coming together, pray for God to protect and provide for this load to arrive safely without incident. 

We are grateful for the many prayers, volunteers  and supporters that are helping with this project.     

See Also:

• Dunedin Boat Business Sews Hope in Africa