Written by Elizabeth Johnson
It was February of 2021 and a fabulous skirt caught my eye as I sat curled up in a blanket with my phone in one hand and a hot cup of coffee in the other. It was pink and gold, and perfect.
The world was slowly recovering, but we were still living mostly online. A sweet friend had
invited me to learn more about a mission called Francis + Benedict, and I could support and shop right from my couch, so that’s exactly what I did.
I scrolled through story after story of incredible women in this tiny country I had never heard of called Togo. I read how generations are being impacted through these absolutely stunning garments.
A beautiful woman named Jeannette was one of the makers of these colorful pieces. As I
skimmed her bio, I noticed she, too, had been suddenly widowed. Jeannette had battled
overwhelming thoughts and felt her world was crumbling around her.
It’s not a club I would wish for anyone to be in, but it’s a connector nonetheless. There’s a
sacred familiarity shared with those who have carried similar brokenness.
Over a decade had passed since I lost my husband, but in that moment my own memories of being a young grieving mom with three small kids, running on sheer desperation to try and figure it all out on my own, were palpable. Motherhood has enough of its own challenges, but to do it in the thick of your own grief while trying to do your best to shepherd your children's grief is another level I wasn’t prepared for and definitely wasn’t great at.
Looking back, I can see how much healing happens in the presence of people who refuse to let us walk through hardship alone. Francis + Benedict became that support system for Jeannette. She was able to pursue her passion of sewing and provide for her son, and just as important, she says she experiences joy and laughter and her mind is now at ease.
This is more than a workplace for her, it’s a community of care, a living reminder that she no longer has to carry the
weight of difficult circumstances alone.
I saw Jeannette’s face when I added that first skirt to my cart. Our stories are different. Our cultures are different. Our grief is different. And yet we are both moms who have walked through great loss, battled anxiety and insecurity, and stand today because someone cared enough to lift up our arms when we couldn’t, encourage us, and give us opportunities to thrive in our gifts and care well for our children.
What continues to move me most about Francis + Benedict is that connection is never just about one story. It’s about how each woman’s opportunity creates ripple effects for entire families and future generations. This is why the Seamstress Apprenticeship is so valuable.
More women are not only discipled through life's challenges, they are equipped with sewing training and skills that create income and long term stability for their families.
Every single impact lane at Francis + Benedict empowers women to build sustainable futures with dignity and purpose.
I am so grateful that for the last five years I have not only been able to wear garments made by the hands of our talented seamstresses, I have had the surreal opportunity to meet Jeannette and our team in Togo and experience first-hand how impacting a few multiplies to the many.
Our monthly mission partners make community for women like Jeannette possible. A gift of $15 a month provides training, resources, encouragement, and opportunities for these women and their families. Small, faithful generosity truly creates life-changing impact over time.
Every single gift becomes part of a story, and as a monthly mission partner you’ll also have exclusive access a few times each year to purchase the same fabulous pieces that first drew me to Francis + Benedict – garments that represent so much more than fashion alone.
If your heart has been moved as you’ve learned about Francis + Benedict, would you consider partnering with us today?
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