Rehoboth Congregational Members and Friends Sewing Team Delivers over 5,000 Masks as well as Caps and Ear Savers to Providence Hospitals since Pandemic began
In mid-March 2020, when the US was going into lockdown, the Rehoboth Congregational Church Members and Friends Sewing Team went into action. Tom & Helen Davis had been volunteering for years at the Providence Hospitals with their Pet Therapy dogs America and Patriot. Pet Therapy stopped in early March and it was clear there was not enough PPEs to protect the frontline. They found a CDC approved mask online and contacted Women and Infants Hospital to see if there was a need, the answer was yes and the Team began sewing.
They would sew for Women and Infants, Miriam, Town of Rehoboth, other hospitals’ employees nursing homes, group homes, VNAs and anyone who needed a mask. After a request from a Church member Miriam nurse, they added cotton caps to their mission. By late June, the Team had provided over 4,000 masks, over 250 caps and over 600 ear savers.
Women and Infants Hospital called the donations “timely and lifesaving” and went on to say “their actions speak to the American spirit of a small town pulling together to make a difference for others” and wanted to let us know “those participating (in this effort) are heroes”.
Miriam Hospital expressed their gratitude for the donations and how the hospital’s employees always look forward to their deliveries. The hospital included pictures of their health care professionals wearing the masks.
The Team paused over the summer as the Covid numbers dropped and supplies were improving. The Team was contacted in late August by Miriam who asked if they had any masks or caps available as the numbers were starting to rise. Once again sewers, who had never stopped sewing masks for individuals, said they would be willing to sew again for the hospitals. Miriam has commented that they fly off the shelves.
No one ever imagined that 2020 and 2021 would turn out the way they have. However, many stepped up to make a difference in a time of need. Tom and Helen are humbled by the efforts of the volunteers who stepped forward donating their time and skill and by those who donated money, materials, delivery services and support for the project.
The Rehoboth Congregational Church will celebrate their 300th Anniversary on November 29, 2021 and are proud that service has always been a hallmark of the Church.
The “Maskateers” have included Jane Williams, Lori Schirk, Barbara Williams, Linda McHugh, Cathy Potter, Mary Louise Pacheco, Marjorie Morrell, Connie Grab, Liz Morrell, Robin Glancy, Colleen Phillips, Euthecia Hancewicz, Lucille Amaral and Katelyn Brannigan as well as Tom and Helen Davis.