“Rags to Bags” program benefiting Nicaragua’s poorest

By Shay Hearn ’16

Upon returning from our hiatus of giving thanks, an opportunity to extend our good fortune to others will commence. Students associated with the “Rags to Bags” program will sell shoulder bags, purses and cell phone holders that are hand-sewn from scraps of cloth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27 and Wednesday, Nov. 28 in the O’Hare Academic Center lobby.

These carefully stitched pieces were made by women in Managua, Nicaragua, and all profits are returned to operate their sewing center. Every bag has the name and photo of its maker attached to it. Thus, if you are lucky enough to purchase one of the 60 available bags, you know exactly whom your purchase is helping.

Last August, 21 members of the Salve Regina community traveled to Managua to volunteer with the international relief agency Mustard Seed Communities and help work on manual labor projects within the orphanages there.

“Our group took six extra suitcases on our trip and brought them to the sewing center. We brought back bags in them to sell here,” says associate professor of religious and theological studies John Rok, who organized the trip.

The Salve Regina students and faculty who attended this trip not only helped the Managua community over the week they spent there, but they also brought their service back with them so that their generosity be continued by the rest of our community.