Westfield's Callini family contributes to 'Hope for Limpopo'

Sisters Julia and Sabrina Callini learned to sew simple dresses from their grandmother, Karen N. Callini, of Westfield.

WESTFIELD – Eight-year-old Julia M. Callini stands on the tips of her toes and tucks a personal note in the pocket of one of the 30 dresses she, her sister and grandmother have made.

Her 6-year-old sister, Sabrina E. Callini, agrees that placing the surprise notes and small gifts such as bracelets in the pockets is her favorite part of their project.

“I wish I could be there to see their faces when they open them,” she says of the little girls who will one day soon wear the brightly-colored creations.

The dresses – and notes – are bound for Limpopo, a province of South Africa.

For the Callini sisters, daughters of Anthony P. and Stephanie R. Callini, of West Springfield, this holiday season has been about the spirit of giving – a concept they have embraced whole-heartedly since their grandmother, Karen N. Callini, of Westfield, taught them how to sew simple dresses from pillow cases and discarded remnants of fabric used to create quilts.

“It feels pretty cool,” said Julia. “I’m hoping that the girls will like wearing the dresses.”

Nancy Amanti, a founder of Hope for Limpopo, the charity receiving the donation of the dresses, assures the sisters that their gift will be met with great delight by the Limpopo girls who have never before worn brand-new clothing.

“This will be such a thrill to them,” she says. “They will be so excited to wear them.”

The Callinis’ road to Limpopo has been a circuitous one, paved by fate that began with a sewing program Karen saw on television and continued after a conversation with fellow yoga student Amanti who asked Callini, a quilter, if she could make a wall hanging for her.

“I told her I didn’t have time because I was making dresses for children in Africa,” Callini says. “That’s when Nancy told me she has a non-profit in Limpopo, so we decided to donate the dresses to her organization.”

Amanti, along with friends Jo Ann and the late Vaughn Churchill, founded the Hope for Limpopo charity in 2004, which was incorporated a year later.

The Churchills were inspired to create the charity after they returned from living in eastern and southern Africa as Peace Corps volunteers.

In 2008, Vaughn Churchill, an artist and longtime Westfield educator, died of lung cancer. It was his wish that his wife and Amanti continue raising funds and awareness for Limpopo, Amanti says.

“Vaughn said we needed to move forward,” she says. “We brought some of his ashes to South Africa with us and left them in Limpopo where he would’ve wanted them – where he had hoped he would have retired. We continue to carry hope to his African friends.”

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Upon learning of Hope for Limpopo, Callini recruited Julia and Sabrina to help with the project – one designed to teach them the meaning of selflessness and giving while creating a significant bonding experience for the grandmother and her granddaughters.

“The idea was to spend time with the girls, teach them how to sew and do something that would help others,” Callini said.

At first, Callini discovered among her quilting supplies enough fabric for 15 dresses. But, as the family’s involvement in the mission increased, so, too, did the girls’ excitement at the thought that their handiwork would provide poor children with much-needed clothing.

Fifteen dresses then became 30 dresses in a myriad of colorful designs and patterns featuring pockets in contrasting colors – pockets deep enough to hold the surprise notes and gifts.

“We’re excited about this project of love” Callini says. “The girls have learned so much and put a great deal of thought into the process. They even journal about it. They will remember this forever.”

While large monetary donations to Hope for Limpopo are always appreciated, Amanti says it is the smaller, personal ones, such as the Callinis’ work demonstrates, which will ultimately help transform the province from a poverty-ridden community in desperate need into one where a climate of hope can breed self-sufficiency.

“We always hoped that people would find some way to be part of Hope for Limpopo in a way that allows us to bond together in giving,” Amanti says. “We believe everyone wants to help – a kind word, an action, support for what we do. We open our arms to everything. Nothing is too small, and this is the perfect example of what we hope for – something small that grows.”