By Liz Nolan, Contributing Writer
Northborough – A small group of members from the Boston chapter of the American Sewing Guild (ASG) have been making holiday dreams come true for young girls for the past six years. The mission of the 16 women is to donate 100 dolls each year to community groups and charities, which work with young girls who live in shelters or are in crisis.
Each girl receives an 18-inch doll, similar to the American Girl doll, along with a hand-sewn wardrobe and carry tote. The wardrobe includes a nightgown, dress, jeans, top, skirt, peasant top, leggings, tunic, sleeping bag, jacket, hat, underwear, two pairs of shoes, a pair of socks and a purse.
Northborough resident Adrienne Cost has spearheaded the group known as “Dolls and More.” To date, 600 dolls have been donated.
“I do believe that we are doing something wonderful for the community that no one else has done or is doing,” Cost said. “People remember what it is like to be a child and have a doll.”
The group meets twice a month at the Northborough Senior Center beginning in January as they plan a year ahead for the next holiday season. They bring their own sewing machines to the meetings and sew together, often taking a dinner break together at the nearby café.
Cost noted that doll clothes are not the only thing that is created from these meetings – friendships have developed as well.
The dolls are purchased with the diversity of the girls in mind, including a variety of hair and skin types. Each doll costs about $25, but generous donations from the Northborough and Marlborough junior woman’s clubs and others have helped to offset the cost of the dolls and supplies.
“We could not do the work we do without the support of others,” said Cost.
The organizations which receive the dolls work individually with the children and specifically know each child.
Bethany Hill Place in Framingham is one organization that receives the dolls. Its Executive Director Trish Appert said they let the parents give the dolls to the girls, but she has witnessed first-hand the impact the dolls make on the lives of the girls.
She recalled a conversation she had with one of the little recipients.
“When I told her that it took a whole year of sewing, her eyes got wider,” she said. “She loved the doll and the outfits. She loved knowing such care and thought went into it.”
Friends of Families in Transition Executive Director Julie Stanwood works with homeless families and has also seen the magic these dolls bring.
“The dolls are loved by the recipients,” said Stanwood. “The first year we gave them out, a little girl opened it and was squealing. It was so funny. She had the doll undressed in two seconds and in a new outfit that the ladies made. Her mom told me a few days later how much her daughter loved the doll and she carried it around all the time.”
Donations can be made to American Sewing Guild-Boston Chapter, c/o Adrienne Cost, 18 Gates Lane, Northborough, MA 01532.
ASG is a national membership organization that welcomes sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels to learn new sewing skills, network with others who share an interest in sewing and participate in community service sewing projects. For information on the Boston chapter, email [email protected] or visit www.asg.org.