Lillian Weber is a dressmaker who wanted to use her skill to help other people, and that was why she planned to sew 1,000 dresses for less fortunate kids before her 100th birthday.
However, when she celebrated her 100th birthday last May 6, Weber not only accomplished her goal but even surpassed it when she donated a total of 1,051 dresses to Little Dresses for Africa, a non-profit Christian organisation that has sent more than 3 million dresses to young girls in 47 African countries and 31 other countries.
Weber, who hails from Iowa, managed to accomplish this feat by sewing a new dress almost every day, according to WQAD8. "I could probably make two a day, but I only make one," she even said.
And she does not merely make plain, uniform dresses — she adorns each one with a little something extra, be it an extra stitching or a special detail.
"She personalizes all the dresses," her daughter Linda revealed. "It's not like good enough that she makes the dresses, she has to put something on the front to make it look special, to give it her touch."
Weber described the creation of dresses as a labour of love and said that for as long as she can, she will continue making dresses for little girls in need. "It's just one of those things you learn how to do and enjoy," she said. "I won't quit. I'll go at it again because there's no reason to not do nothing."
Little Dresses for Africa was so touched by Weber's dedication that the organisation honoured her during her 100th birthday party with a plaque of recognition. "There's no age limit to this. Somebody who's 100 years old still putting out this quality with such a positive and inspirational message, it's just been wonderful," said organisation founder Rachel O'Neill. "Lives are really saved because of these dresses."
