Ministry helps women around the world

Kathy Baker, who oversees the LuoPad ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in New Holland, has an unusual request. "We are asking the community to donate gently used towels," said Baker, who has already asked parish members for donations. "They can be any size towels, hand towels, or washcloths," she continued. "We can't use bathmats because they are too thick."

Baker is seeking the towels for a group of about a dozen women who meet at the church, 150 Water St., New Holland, the last three Thursdays of each month in the morning. The group creates LuoPads, washable, reusable feminine hygiene pads, for Unto, an organization that provides humanitarian aid to developing countries. Unto has a Global Logistics Center in Mount Joy.

"This is our little workshop," said Baker, gesturing around the room at the church where volunteers were hard at work creating the pads. Baker explained that the kits the women complete include about six finished pads, a washcloth, two pairs of underwear, and more in a bag. Pads come in large, medium, and small sizes, and each is completed with a snap. "Unto labels them and ships them by the skid. (LuoPads are) the most requested item from Unto," noted Baker

Baker explained that each pad begins when the form is traced on a towel and cut out before being shipped back to Unto for sewing. When the pieces are returned to the group, the outside is created from flannel and stuffed with the towel piece. "Then we sew all the way around and in the middle to make it more secure," said Baker, who said that the snap is added at Unto. Baker estimated that the ladies complete 10 large boxes a month.

The group, which is mostly made up of church members, has been meeting to make LuoPads for about 18 months. In addition to towels, Baker said the group would welcome new volunteer members. Individuals who are interested in donating towels or volunteering may email kb1clown@gmail.com or call 484-888-3772.