Westside Stories

The Dress a Girl Around the World program is proudly entering its seventh year in Wahkiakum County, bringing joy and hope to countless girls in need. Leading this impactful mission is Rosburg resident Pearl Blackburn, who serves as the Ambassador for Oregon and Washington. In 2024, an inspiring total of 1,628 dresses, along with 117 pairs of boy shorts and an abundance of T-shirts, fabric bags, underwear, pocket toys, and stuffed animals were joyfully distributed across the globe. Through the heartwarming efforts of Operation Christmas Child and a local pregnancy center, these gifts of love found their way to children in Uganda, Jamaica, Knysna in South Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, South Sudan, Kenya, Guatemala, India, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic.

When I met with Pearl to learn more about the program, her passion and joy were evident. With tears in her eyes, she told me, “As I send out the dresses to be distributed to the girls, I pray over each one. I truly believe that God will deliver each dress to the girls who need them.”

The dresses are crafted from a delightful array of colors and patterns, predominantly featuring soft, breathable cotton fabric. Each dress boasts two charming front pockets, adding a signature detail that offers girls a special place to store their cherished treasures. With each dress, sewers can infuse their unique artistry, making each piece a one-of-a-kind celebration of creativity and love. The Dress a Girl labels are available for purchase on the program’s website, as well as a selection of pattern ideas.

On Oct. 6, the community gathered for a heartfelt “Blessing of the Dresses” event at Naselle Lutheran Church. There, 52 enchanting dresses, crafted with love by sewing groups and individuals from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Canada, California, Alaska, and Minnesota, were beautifully displayed, each telling a story of compassion and hope.

Based in Forest City, Iowa, this remarkable international program celebrated its fifteenth anniversary in Oct. 2024. With a mission to deliver not just dresses, but also hope to vulnerable girls around the world, the initiative is built upon four powerful pillars: Dignity, Health, Joy, and Love. As these beautiful dresses are shared, the organization aims to empower girls and their families with knowledge about the dangers of human trafficking. Village pastors have noted that providing a girl with a new dress not only elevates her sense of dignity but also transforms how others perceive her, signaling to potential predators that she is under the protective care of a dedicated organization. Since its inception in 2009, Dress a Girl has made an extraordinary impact by distributing over two million dresses.

The local Dress a Girl sewing group meets at 1 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Naselle Lutheran Church parsonage. Donations of cotton fabric are appreciated, but please avoid glitter, Disney fabric, and fabric with words.

For more information about the program, please visit their website, dressagirlaroundtheworld.com, or you can contact Pearl Blackburn at dressagirl1pearl@gmail.com.

Westside Happenings

February

12 – Grays River Flood District Meeting,

GR Fire Hall, 5:30 p.m.

18 – Naselle Grays River School Board Meeting, School Library, 6:30 p.m.

19 – Bunco at Johnson Park, 5:30 p.m., games

start at 6:00 p.m. $5 to play all night.

March

8 – Movie night at Grays River Grange, 7 p.m.

Featured film is The Dark Divide.

To include an event on the calendar or to give feedback, please contact me at writerlisayeager@outlook.com. You can also follow me on Facebook @ Writer Lisa Yeager.