Local Church Sews In Love

After hearing the need for masks, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Mormons, and friends jumped on board making 225 plus masks in nine days for their local nursing home.

When Jessica Adkins, Director of Nursing at Ridgeway Nursing and Rehabilitation in Owingsville, KY, expressed her concern for the health and safety of her residents and staff due to the recent Covid 19 virus and scarcity of protective face masks, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints heard her plea. “I’m very limited on what supplies I can get right now” said Jessica Adkins, DOA. “Even if it’s a cover for what we’ve got so it can last longer, I’m okay with that.” Calling their project Sew In Love, members and their friends used social media and the JustServe.org website to ask members over an 11 county area to pitch in to make 225 face masks, one for each resident and staff member. Hoping to have the masks in 10 days the goal was actually reached in 9.

Seamstresses of all ages participated, some as young as 9 years old. This was a true labor of love as many of the seamstresses have known or know residents of the facility. Those who did not sew donated fabric or elastic, or dropped off and picked up supplies and finished masks. Everyone who participated felt they had received much more than they had given as they worked to relieve the fear and potential suffering this pandemic has brought. Stephanie Ward, 17 years of age, Winchester, KY, when asked what drew her into the project summed it up best, “It’s important to serve and support our communities. Even if it’s something as small as a sewing project.”

And their service continues. Since providing the needed masks for Ridgeway, the members have remained busy completing nearly 1000 masks.  Masks have been made and donated to many surrounding hospitals, local doctors and nurses, other nursing facilities, local law enforcement, ambulance drivers, trucking firms, and just those in need both here in Kentucky and other states.