In late September of this year I got an email from an Angles from Heaven supporter named Kathy asking me if I would like about 35 like new Beanie Babies to send to the children of Nepal. I told her sure that would be fantastic and the kids would love them.  With that, a few days later I drove to Kathy’s house to pick them up. 

 

The beanies were all great, small and lightweight and in great shape. After a nice chat with Kathy it was time to say goodbye. 

 

When we walked to the door and she handed me the big bag of Beanies Kathy said to me Ray , do you know anyone who would want a sewing machine? I said I am not sure Kathy. 

 

Kathy explained that at one time her older Son was interested in tailoring and was learning how to sew. But as things often happen he got married and now has two children so his tailoring hobby is on hold and my boy said that he wants me to find a home for his Brand New sewing machine.

 

Kathy picked up the Sewing Machine for me to see. It was in the original box with all the instructions to go with it.

 

I said to Kathy wow this is nice somebody would love to have it .  I told Kathy that someone would have to be very special and that I did not know of anyone right now and that I could not send it to India or Nepal as the electric current is different there and the sewing  machine would not work also that if it was shipped there would be huge duty charges, so I would have to find a home within the USA and I did not know how long it would take to find that special home for the Sewing Machine.Kathy said ok Ray take it with you and see what you can do with it.

 

After about two weeks of searching all over the place . I did find a few places that have sewing classes but what I did not like was they were all for profit sewing classes and charged the students a fee to attend each class. They all looked to be very good classes but I was looking for something better than that where no money was involved. 

 

Another two more weeks of searching Google all over the USA and I was not 100% sure but I may have found the right place for the like new sewing machine from Kathy and her Son.

 

I found a place two hours from Boston in Portland Maine that looked very interesting and I decided to telephone them and check it out. I called and spoke to the Director Adele Ngoy.

 

Adele was very friendly and answered everyone of my questions about her Non – Profit Organization

 

The name of the Non Profit  is Women United Around the World…..

 

After I hung up the telephone talking to Adele I knew in my heart that this would be a great place for Kathy and her Sons Sewing Machine. 

 

If there is one thing most of you know about me, Ray OBrien, I make sure that our donations go to the right places in need. So I called Adele back a few days later with just a few more questions and set a date and time that I could drive from Boston MA to Portland ME  to meet her and see the students in her class. 

 

Adele was great. We set a date and time and the next day off I went for the long ride to Portland ME with Kathy and her son’s sewing machine.

 

I arrived in the downtown area of Portland ME. My wife and I and my handicapped boy Raymond met Adele Ngoy and teachers Bijou Leseke and Liliane Bakonda in the middle of their sewing class with many students. 

 

These women are immigrant women who are new to Maine and they are training to learn how to sew to be able to get a job. The machines that they are using in the classroom are commercial sewing machines but Adele explained that the women need to practice at home with smaller sewing machines to learn different patterns of stitching and how to sew different fabrics together . It is a skill you just do not learn overnight. It takes practice to sharpen your skills.  

 

After visiting everyone for over an hour I knew Kathy and her boys Sewing Machine found a good home.

 

Because of the many people who send Children are Angels from Heaven donations,  I was also able to leave a small donation check with Adele for the sewing class Women United Around the World . 

 

I found it to be a very good program to help people. After taking a few photos Patty and I said goodbye to everyone and made our way home again. It was a very long day, but a very good day. Finding the like new Sewing Machine it’s forever home in Portland Maine with the non profit Women United around the World Sewing Class.