A number of volunteer
seamstresses at Southeast Community College are playing their part during the
COVID-19 outbreak by sewing and donating cloth face masks. Close to a dozen
members of the SCC community created more than 100 masks and hats, with more on
the way.
“My grandma, who was a beautiful
seamstress, taught me to sew when I was 7,” said Vicki Coffin, nursing
assistant instructor at SCC. “Being considered high risk prevents me from
helping on those front lines, so sewing the masks is a way to help the cause
with respect to the social distancing directives.”
The target audience
for the face masks is long-term care facilities, critical access hospitals and
first responders. So far, SCC has delivered to Sumner Place Skilled Nursing
& Rehabilitation and the Lincoln Police Department, with many other
requests to other health facilities. The CDC recommends wearing face masks in
public settings where social distancing measures are difficult.
“Materials are donated by
the seamstresses,” said Jill Sand, dean of SCC’s Health Sciences Division who
is helping coordinate the effort. “They have been using their fabric stashes and
supplies to make the masks. Currently, elastic is difficult to find for
purchase so they are getting creative and using ponytail holders and making
fabric tie masks.”
This is all part of SCC’s Community
Action Team, which is creating ways to help in the community during this health
crisis.
"I have great appreciation and
pride that our SCC family and community have come together on this and other
community action projects,” Coffin added.
If you are interested in helping sew masks, find out more by
contacting scccommunityaction@southeast.edu.