From Blanket Wraps to Face Masks during COVID-19

These past few months have caused us to quickly adapt to the unusual circumstances of COVID-19. The beginning of March was spent routinely handing out Blanket Wraps to shelters, but by the end of March, we switched gears to produce face masks. Kate and I watched tons of YouTube videos on how to make the masks, but with supplies limited in stores, we had to combine ideas and create our own pattern. We started by using elastic but found that it was very scarce in stores. After hours of trial-and-error, Kate and I settled on the design that used double-layer cotton and two sets of cotton straps. This was designed primarily out of concern for the people in homeless shelters who needed masks to tie around hoods and hats. With this model, we produced over 500 face masks (all while still doing online high school)! A few weeks into quarantine, Ford Warriors in Pink recognized our work and donated over 1000 pink bandanas for us to use for fabric. We are so grateful for their support!

Kate and I also wanted to put our sewing machines to use (since we have them from our sewing classes), so we distributed them to people interested in helping. We created our own instructional YouTube video for people to learn how to sew our style of face masks. Julia M., one of our sewers from the Royal Oak Middle School MLK Jr. Day of Service, helped make masks to give to people she saw that needed them! We also dropped off material to Lucy, Melanie, and Maria, our helpers from the winter sewing class at Genesis House, and they did an awesome job! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the mask-making for those in our community.

During April and into May, Kate and I worked on plastic face shields after requests from local doctors. We had some extra plastic (unused and clean!) and decided to make shields for hospitals that needed protection.

Wondering where our face masks and shields went? Here is a list of some of the organizations and people we were honored to help:

• Ark Association Luncheon for the homeless
• A Pediatric Orthopedic Dr. in Florida
• The Bay Health and Rehabilitation Center
• Detroit Street Care
• The Pink Fund
• Gleaners Food Bank
• Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network
• ChristNet shelter
• St. Joe’s Hospital
• Waterford Open Door Outreach Center
• Lots of friends, neighbors and family…anyone who needed one!

Now that things are starting to open up and masks are more available, we have devoted our time to our SUMMER SEWING CLASSES! Kate and I love teaching and the residents of the Genesis House love learning to sew, so we wanted to make sure that the program could still happen. We have planned for two types of learning: virtual and in-person.

Kate and I have been working with a technical specialist to get advice on installing a screen inside the shelter. This screen will have internet access and a webcam so that Zoom meetings can happen. Then, with the screen mounted on a wall in the same room we usually teach, we will run virtual hand-sewing classes from home! Each week we will drop off packages for each student with the necessary materials, and students will have the opportunity to complete three levels of projects. Kate and I really wanted to make sure the residents were still connected to businesses and organizations during this time, so we thought a screen would allow interactions without too many people coming in and out of the shelter.

The in-person classes (which we really hope can still happen!) will involve us bringing in 12 computerized sewing machines as usual. We have some AWESOME projects that are ready to go whenever we can teach!

As always, stay updated with what we are doing by following us on Facebook and Instagram. We will post tons of pictures.

Happy Summer!
Mackenzie and Kate