At 90 years old, Sally lives a life threaded with purpose.

Born in Texas and shaped by years spent in Arizona, California, and now Colorado, she carries with her a simple belief: “The more you give, the more you have.” And she has lived that truth across decades, states, and generations—most tangibly through the hundreds upon hundreds of handmade dresses she has sewn for little girls around the country.

A Calling Discovered in California

Sally began making dresses for 2- to 3-year-old girls while living in California. There, she found countless organizations—especially those serving the children of farm workers—who welcomed her lovingly stitched creations. Each dress represented care, joy, and dignity for children who needed to feel seen.

Even after moving, the mission never left her. Now living in Colorado Springs, Sally continues to mail dresses every month—spending nearly $50 on postage alone. “It’s a lot of money,” she admits with a smile, “but the money always comes in. I’m grateful to God for it.” She has always found a way to keep giving.

A Dressmaker With Dresses Always in Hand

Sally doesn’t just wait for organizations to receive her gifts—she keeps dresses with her around town, ready for moments when kindness finds its way into everyday life. Just last week at a restaurant, she spotted two little girls with their family. She offered each one a dress. Their eyes lit up, and they wanted to put them on right away. These moments fuel Sally. They always have.

A Life Devoted to Children

Sally spent years working for Head Start and has spent her life in the presence of children. Their spirit has always energized her. “Kids are so smart,” she says, “and being around them keeps me young.”

Five years ago this June, she moved to Colorado Springs to be near her daughter and granddaughter—and to help care for her great-grandson, three-year-old Lucas. Today, she delights in her bustling family of four children, seven grandchildren, and three great grandsons, all of whom give her life richness and meaning.

Sharing Her Gifts With Colorado Springs

Recently, Sally donated a beautiful collection of her dresses to the Silver Key Thrift Store at our Main Campus in Colorado Springs. While we don’t typically carry children’s clothing, her story—and the love woven into each dress—was too special to simply put on a rack. Instead, these dresses will be given to children who visit the Silver Key Food Pantry and Thrift Store, extending Sally’s circle of giving here in our own community.

Celebrating Elderhood

Sally embodies what the Elderhood Project stands for: the idea that aging is not an ending, but a continued offering. A journey of purpose, resilience, generosity, and connection. Aging is all of us—and at every stage, we have something meaningful to give.

Through her hands, her heart, and her unwavering belief in giving, Sally reminds us that joy multiplies when shared. Her dresses warm the shoulders of little girls near and far, but her legacy warms all of us.

This is elderhood. And Sally is one of its brightest threads.