The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Livonia Branch held its 39th “Salute to Women Luncheon on Saturday, December 8, 2012. This year’s honoree was Rachel O’Neill, founder of Little Dresses for Africa (LDFA).

Following lunch, Marcia Mandell, introduced Rachel O’Neill, highlighting her passion for Africa. Rachel began speaking on behalf of LDFA to school, community groups and churches to encourage community involvement in helping others, and to raise awareness of the plight of little girls in Africa. Since 2008, LDFA has grown through word of mouth to all 50 states across the USA, as well as the UK, Canada, Mexico, Australia and other countries. LDFA is a volunteer organization of women and girls who sew simple dresses made of pillow cases. These dresses are distributed to orphanages and churches in many parts of Africa, as well as communities in need in the Appalachian Mountains and South Dakota in the United States. The dresses are sent to other countries in crisis such as Honduras, Guatemala, the Philippines, Cambodia, Mexico and Haiti. To date, LDFA has delivered over ONE MILLION little dresses. In addition to her LDFA on-going activities, Rachel also conducts small, short term mission trips to inland African communities where she and her volunteers teach healthy nutrition, use of clean water and good sanitation habits. They also conduct Bible classes, provide food, books, farm equipment, and hope through projects like “Buckets of Hope” for the widows and caregivers of children suffering from AIDS. Anyone interested in making the dresses, can go to the LDFA website at www.littledressesforafrica.org. There you can find the pillow case pattern, make a contribution, find out how you or your organization can help, or donate fabric or shipping costs to help get the dresses to the children.

Co-president Nancy Shaw presented Rachel O’Neill with the Salute to Women Award for 2012. AAUW member, Eleanor Locke, shared her poem “Woman of the Year”. Participants enjoyed the music by the Livonia Youth Philharmonic Orchestra Flute section directed by Anjali Martin.

AAUW Livonia Branch is open to anyone with an associate degree or better and holds monthly meetings on the third Tuesday at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Seven Mile and Gill at 7 p.m.