This spring, Rochester Teachers Association’s Savvy Sewers group celebrated its 12th anniversary.
“We like to say that we’re the only unionized sweatshop in the country,” jokes Gaya Shakes, a program volunteer.
Every month for the last 12 years, the group of 20 retirees has met at the Rochester TA offices, sewing machines in tow, to make dresses for the Dress a Girl Around the World program. Their pretty, practical dresses help bring dignity to girls around the globe and thwart human trafficking.
“Sometimes people try to take advantage of these young women, but the dress sends a message that the girls are cared for, and that makes people think twice,” said Shakes. The Dress a Girl ambassadors who distribute the dresses also use the event as an opportunity to educate families about human trafficking, including how to protect themselves against some of the most common trafficking schemes.
Since their founding, the RTA retirees have made more than 2,000 dresses for girls in countries as far away as Honduras, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand, South Africa, and Uganda.
Despite the distance, the retirees feel a kinship with these young women. “It’s girls helping girls,” explains Sandra Martinez, one of the original program volunteers.
Each of the Savvy Sewers’ dresses comes with a pair of underpants and a handmade doll, tucked into the pocket of the dress to make the girls feel special.
“We get these pictures of the girls in their dresses, and that’s the best part. They pose like they’re models on the runway,” said Shakes. “It’s wonderful to see.” The group also had the opportunity to visit an orphanage in Panama in 2020 where they distributed the dresses in-person.
The group does their own fundraising for the program – receiving donations from individuals, churches, non–profits and strangers – and charges each member $5 at the monthly meeting to help cover the purchase of fabric and other materials.
The Savvy Sewers have also responded to other community needs – usually with a focus on empowering girls and women. For instance, the retirees have plied their needles to make reusable “power pad” menstruation kits so young women can attend school uninterrupted. They have also made blankets for homeless shelters and donated cleaning products to food pantries for SNAP recipients, who can’t purchase household goods with their EBT cards.
“We go where the needs are,” said Martinez. The group has also been instrumental in helping start six spin-off sewing groups.
“It gives us hope, you know?” said Martinez. “Do good to feel good.”