Lillian Weber, a 100-year-old Iowa native surpassed her goal of sewing 1,000 dresses for little girls in Africa. Weber, who became a centenarian on May 6, began her task in 2011. The seamstress sews and donates the garments to Little Dresses for Africa, a nonprofit Christian organization.
“It is our hope that in delivering dresses to these young girls, that a seed will be planted in their hearts, in the name of Jesus, that they are worthy. We plant the seeds; God sends the harvest,” states LDFA’s mission statement.
Weber’s goal was to sew 1,000 dresses by her 100th birthday. She reached that goal on March 12, 2015 and kept on sewing. By her birthday, she sewed 1,051 dresses.
“When I get to that thousand, if I’m able to. I won’t quit. I’ll go at it again because there’s no reason to not do nothing,” said Weber on Aug. 2014.
Weber said that she makes one dress per day. She also personalizes each dress, so that each one is unique. She begins a new project every morning and finishes it in the afternoon.
“It’s just one of those things you learn how to do and enjoy,” said Weber in March 2015 in an interview with WQAD.
Dresses are made for girls and britches are made for boys. The clothing are distributed at churches, orphanages, and schools in Africa, as well as other countries worldwide. In addition to providing garments, LDFA aims to provide clean water and education to communities.
