◆ Valley works together to sew face masks.
A few weeks ago as Star Valley Health was making plans for COVID-19, the need for face masks at the hospital was discussed.
“The auxiliary heard about that and we said of course we can sew some masks,” said Pam Clement of the Star Valley Health Auxiliary. “So we started working. There were eight of us at first and we had a goal to sew about 500 masks that could be worn over the N95 surgical masks and maybe help prolong the life of the N95 masks.”
The ladies initially leading the community efforts included: Debbie Allred, Diana Coles, Sandy Spencer, Fawn Hemmert, Kelli Miller, Debbie Harris, Alesia Winters and Julie E. Skinner, Clement said.
Word of the sewing project spread quickly throughout the Star Valley community and soon between 70 and 80 different seamstresses were involved.
“We had two patterns we were using and everyone just came together to help,” said Clement. “We had people working on this from Smoot to Alpine. There were different religious and community groups involved. I really can’t describe it. It was just wonderful to see everyone come together and want to help.”
As of Thursday, April 9, the group had created well over 800 face masks and were still going strong.
“Then when the CDC came out and recommended that everyone in the community wear a face mask if they were in public, the group started sewing masks for their friends and neighbors,” Clement said.
In addition to the face masks, the Star Valley Health auxiliary thought about the possibility of extending the life of surgical gowns by creating washable gown covers out of sheets.
The request went out for sheets to be donated for the project. A pattern was created and shared and soon surgical gown covers were being made, Clement said.
A dress shop in Utah heard about the gown cover pattern and made a request to use it to sew gown covers for healthcare workers in Utah, Clement said.
“You can see how one little thing can really grow and make a big difference,” she said. “This project has really been so wonderful. We are united in this. For 45 years I have listened to people talk about North Lincoln County and South Lincoln County. There has been a rift there. I have heard about the Upper and Lower Valley here in Star Valley. But since we started this project there has been such unity. There is no North and South or Upper or Lower. Everyone is working together and any concern about where someone lives or boundaries has just not been evident. We are all friends and we are all working to make a difference. I really do not have any words to say how wonderful it has been.”
The initial goal was to create 20 surgical gown covers. According to Clement, the group has enough material and drive to complete 200 gowns at this point.
“That is how we are going to get through this pandemic,” Clement said. “We will get through it because we are working together and are united. That unity is what we need.”
