The continent of Africa is thousands of miles from the Norwood Park Senior Center on Chicago's far northwest side, but to a small group of neighborhood ladies, it is as near as the project on which they are working-Little Dresses for Africa. Getting together about twice a year, a group of volunteers tote portable sewing machines and irons to a small conference room at the Norwood Park Senior Center, 5801 N. Natoma Ave. in Chicago, bringing along stacks of colored fabrics and patterned donated pillowcases, which are transformed into little girls' dresses.

Little Dresses for Africa, a not-for-profit national program, started by Brownstown, Michigan resident, Rachel O'Neill in 2008, is headquartered at the same location and is staffed only by volunteers. Their mission is to interest other volunteers around the country in collecting pillowcases and converting them into little dresses for children in orphanages, churches and schools in various underdeveloped African countries. The pillowcase design, around since pioneer days, is available in many colors and patterns. It already has hems and sides and, most often, is sitting unused on closet shelves in homes across the country. With some minor adjustments, the pillowcases can be easily turned into sundresses that are suited for the African climate.

The connection to Norwood Park and its relationship to the senior center started, one day, in the nearby century-plus home of Linda Horwitz. A television program she was watching featured Rachel O'Neill, who was discussing an all-volunteer program that collected old pillowcases, converted them into hand-sewn dresses and had them delivered to Africa. The TV guest also explained that the dresses were brought to a mail order business, Nancy's Notions in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where they were packed by volunteers and transported to missionaries to take along during their trips to Africa. This process took a little longer, but it reduced shipping costs and was safer.

Looking to fill a void in her life after her husband, Morris, passed away in 2009, following 36 years of marriage, Horwitz thought "this is something I could do." Her belief was further strengthened by the fact that she had recently retired as a high school English teacher after 35 years. She taught at Fenton High School in Bensenville, spent one-year in Iceland teaching English Second Language, returned to Fenton, and then spent another 29 years at Niles Township High School.

"I had always sewed, and saw the opportunity to bring hope to little children, and I was good at bringing people together," she said. "At first, I bought the material on my own at thrift shops and estate sales, and then people who knew about my interest gave me cloth and pillowcases. The most expensive item is wide double-fold bias binding, because it never goes on sale and home sewers rarely use it. I converted the material into little dresses for these little girls who needed something to give them hope for the future. The little girls had never owned anything of their own."

She recruited volunteers and spearheaded a sewing drive that resulted in about 200 dresses the first year. Horwitz also saw the trip to Wisconsin as a brief respite from daily life in Chicago and drove the dresses there herself.

"As a volunteer at the Norwood Park Senior Center, I asked Keith (Chase-Ziolek, executive director) if we could do this at the center and get more people involved. This was around 2010. He was very supportive and offered us use of the conference room. The first year at the center, about six people participated, and we met about twice. After one day of sewing at the center and another day sewing at home, we were able to make over 100 dresses. This year, we had about 12 people sewing and another six behind the scenes, sorting and cutting. It takes about 30 minutes to make one dress, and altogether we have made more than 125 dresses. No one is paid, all are volunteers. It's the pioneer spirit, I think. I feel like we've given the children hope. Whether it is there or elsewhere, no one chooses where or when they are born or the status of their family, but they are going to know that someone cares enough about them to make and give them dresses."

Horwitz believes the Norwood Park Senior Center was one of the best things to happen to the historic Norwood Park community.

"The people at the senior center are so warm to in heart. It makes me feel good and want to help" she said. "Sometimes we don't know

how to help, and we need someone to show us. It is good to be together and help each other."

As for the pillowcases, Horwitz said, "There are never enough of them. Persons interested in donating clean new or gently used pillowcases can bring them to the senior center and drop them off at the receptionist."

The Norwood Pak Senior Center, open Mondays through Fridays, is a partnership with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, the Chicago Park District, and Norwood Seniors Network. For more information, call the Senior Center at (773) 775-6071 or email them at info@npseniorcenter.org. You can also visit the Senior Center's website at www.npseniorcenter.org or connect with them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorwoodParkSeniorCenter