By Daina Doucet
The more you give, the more you have! With a quote from John Bunyon, Ed Elford, secretary treasurer for Sew on Fire introduced Wendy Hagar, the ministry’s founder, at the grand opening of her new distribution centre in Burlington, Ontario. Sew on Fire is Wendy’s calling, and the words illustrate her ministry. She freely receives and freely gives, and as a result, “Our centre is full and overflowing,” she says.
At the February 24th open house more than 200 attended including Burlington’s mayor Rick Goldring, and Jane McKenna, the member of provincial parliament for the Burlington riding. They had an opportunity to see just how full the centre is.
Crammed in the aisles between floor to ceiling boxes and containers filled with everything from personal care, household, medical and baby layette items, to school supplies, clothing, toys and tools, visitors stood watching as McKenna presented Wendy with a commemorative scroll for community work. Goldring noted the extent to which Wendy’s humanitarian aid has touched the world and had a positive impact on the local community. This, they both observed, solely based on donations and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers locally and nation-wide.
Since founding Sew on Fire’s 12 years ago, Wendy has given free of charge more than 200,000 gifts bags to individuals and mission groups traveling internationally. They have distributed them to widows, orphans and underprivileged children in 91 countries. She has also sent shipping containers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars of relief items to aid people in crisis. The latest, shipped in February 2012, included 500 banana boxes with supplies for persecuted Christians and Jews.
Shipments can’t leave fast enough before more arrive, and Wendy finds that easy to explain. She is connected with generous people. “Eighty percent of the world’s wealth is in North America, and the Bible tells us to open our hand wide to the poor and needy in the land. We have so much,” she said, “and this place is filled with our excess.”
The receiving dock at 975 Fraser Drive burgeons daily with bags, boxes and skids of donations from individuals and companies such as Javelin, MacDonalds, Werthers, Colgate, Trebor Allen and Irwin Toys. While Wendy accepts good-quality used items, half the arriving goods are new. Volunteers sort and distribute them to their appropriate departments.
Everyone, including Wendy, is a volunteer. Up to 100 groups from across Canada knit and sew items. Individuals, schools, Brownie packs, a hockey team, Rotary and Lions clubs, and women’s and church groups volunteer from 600 to 900 hours a month at the centre. Even the Canadian Air Force has been involved. In 2003 they flew 6,000 gift bags to orphans in Guatemala for free. “Sew on Fire gives people a chance to help a hurting world and send God’s love in a tangible form to people in need,” she says.
Sew on Fire’s financial support comes through families, service clubs, churches, companies and some fundraising. The open house provided opportunities to receive donations in exchange for a silent auction and a draw. Ten-year-old Andrew Schwarm, who had recently returned from a mission trip to Africa, attended with his parents. The plight of children in Africa had touched him deeply. He had personally distributed Sew on Fire items to them. At the open house he bought two draw tickets worth $25 each, using all of his hard-earned money, to help them again. At the same time he added, “I’d love to win something.” He glowed as he walked away with The Chronicles of Narnia and a big, white teddy named Candy. Perhaps it was a coincidence; perhaps not!
“This place gives me goosebumps!” said McKenna. Belma Vardy, a friend of Wendy’s put it in perspective. “What a beautiful evening in honour of Jesus. I kept hearing a song playing inside me: ’You alone are God and I surrender to your ways.’ That’s what I see Wendy and Jeff as doing.”
Everyone’s “surrender” is what Wendy believes keeps Sew on Fire as busy as Santa’s workshop year round. When one gives freely according to what God calls them to do, “God pours provision and blessing on you and your life is just as full and overflowing as our distribution centre.”
For more information see the Sew on Fire website www.sewonfire.com. Sew on Fire video.
Daina Doucet is a writer and editor based in Hamilton, Ontario. She is senior editor for the Acts
News Network.
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