By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A piece of Marion is headed to Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic, Sept. 8 with former Marion resident Pat Fruechting Waswick and her husband, William Waswick.

A registered nurse and a surgeon, the two are going on their 16th medical mission to the country as part of a group of 50 sponsored by Medical Ministries International.

Among the many items packed to go with the Waswicks are 50 pillowcase dresses made by a Marion sewing group called Sew Much Love. The sewing group, which meets at Eastmoor United Methodist Church, is made up of women from Marion and nearby communities.

About 15 volunteers work with Sew Much Love two days each week, organizer Norma Kline said. In the 4½ years since the group formed, they have made 2,150 dresses that have ended up in many countries across the globe.

Pat Waswick said she and her husband started going on medical missions in 2006 and have gone twice a year since 2013. Not all their forays have been to Dominican Republic.

“It’s our way of giving back,” Waswick said. “Everyone has a way of giving.”

The couple will spend a week there, taking care of children and adults in need of medical services.

This is the first year they will take dresses from Sew Much Love.

The dresses were added to the supplies after Kline contacted Waswick to offer them.

“Actually Norma Kline just reached out to me on Facebook and wanted to know if we needed dresses,” Waswick said.

Waswick was glad to accept the offer.

“Anytime you go to a country where the people have little, it’s the look on their faces,” Waswick said. “They are grateful.”

Sew Much Love also sends 50 dresses per year with emergency room physician Don Hodson when he goes to Uganda on medical missions. Hodson has made annual mission trips five years.

To volunteer with Sew Much Love, call Kline at (620) 382-2298.