A non-profit group desperately needs help from Richmondites — to turn used wedding dresses into tiny gowns for grieving families.
Over the last two years, BC Angel Dresses has transformed thousands of wedding and bridesmaid garments across the province into dresses for still-born babies.
The group’s founder, Bobby-Jo Kowalski, said the dresses for the little “angels” play a small part in helping families “validate” their babies and facilitate the grieving process.
Kowalski said her organization has had lots of offers of wedding dresses from Richmond, but has no local volunteers to collect them or seamstresses to turn them into the beautiful little clothing items, some no longer than the length of two pens.
“We’ve had lots of calls from people in Richmond, and Steveston in particular, but we have no one nearby to collect them or make them into the angel dresses,” said Kowalski.
“When I look at how many people live in Richmond, it seems like it could be a place where there are lots of volunteers.”
Kowalski said they have more than 100 volunteers across the province — with more coming in every week — who can collect the donations and who can make them into the angel dresses.
“Last week, in Cranbrook, we had no collectors or seamstresses. We found one of each, posted it on Facebook and we were deluged with offers of dresses,” she added.
When a family experiences the loss of a still-born baby, said Kowalski, the simple thought of what to wrap or clothe the child in, is often overlooked.
“This is a way for the family to validate the baby; it’s more personal, it shows that the baby counts and it can help start the grieving process,” she said of the little re-worked dresses.
“In 2015, there were 381 neo-natal or still-born deaths (20 weeks and over) in B.C.
“I’ve lost four babies due to miscarriage. This is how I honour my lost babies and maybe, somehow, helps other families get through their loss.”
An unregistered non-profit, based out of Pitt Meadows, Kowalski kicked off BC Angel Dresses in May 2014, motivated by her own loss.
It takes about 20-40 hours for seamstresses to transform the dresses into the tiny little angel ones, she explained.
“Once seamstresses are done, the dresses, which are for girls and boys, get packaged in various sizes in a kit and delivered to hospitals, free of charge.
“We gladly accept donations to help with sewing material and shipping costs, but we basically fund most of it ourselves.”
For more information, or if you think you can help, check out the group’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/groups/BCAngelDresses or go to its website at BCangelDresses.ca. You can also email [email protected].
