Learn how Wesley residents and staff are supporting their communities.
Around the world and here in Washington State, we are dealing with a shortage of masks for our healthcare workers. While Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements for caring for patients with COVID-19 include a specific type of mask, gown, gloves and goggles or face shield, the shortage of masks has prompted Wesley communities to start making homemade masks for caregivers and care receivers without visible symptoms.
Many residents and staff have stepped up to help make protective face masks to donate to our care center staff and Wesley Health and Home Care teams.
This endeavor began at Wesley Lea Hill where the resident quilting group has already made about 300 masks for the care staff at Lea Hill.
“It’s wonderful to be able to provide this protection to our health care workers and our community,” said Donna Conley, one of the lead quilters at Lea Hill. She, Jean Fisher, Pina Mull, Pat Chubb and several others said they feel grateful to be able to help provide such a valuable benefit to their community during this challenging time.
Wesley Bradley Park residents are also helping to make cloth face masks for the staff.
Resident Ruth Sims is heading up the mask-making crew at Bradley Park along with Lee Grau, Sharon Shores and Ann Miller.
So far, they have sewn over 100 masks for their community.
The fabric used is from donations received for our Creativity Center, and the elastic was a joint effort of many residents digging through their sewing kits!
They are currently out of elastic but are hoping to procure more or find a suitable alternative.
At Wesley Des Moines, the campus’s Resident Engagement team is setting up a group to stitch face masks to donate to our Wesley staff. They are working to procure supplies to help the group with the production of face masks.
Joy Erickson, who runs a stitchery business, has volunteered to help. Along with Joy, Donna Wilson, Janet Jackson and Jan Slezak are few of the residents who have offered to help with this project.
A few Wesley staff members have also joined in. Tamera Barrier, Home Health Administrative Assistant, started making cloth face masks along with her friends and coworkers. She and other staff members like Karen Cleven, Victoria and Emma have donated around 100 masks to Wesley Health & Home Care and Wesley Hospice.
As the need for protective gear continues to grow, our residents and staff are working hard to help provide protection for each other. Wesley is inspired by what the people in our communities are doing to help one another.
Can Wesley Lea Hill buy some of these masks for their own use?
Hi Pam, we’re glad to see you’re interested in this project from our residents at Wesley Lea Hill!
For specific questions like this, please contact our Lea Hill at (253) 876-6000.
Hi George and Diane! I would recommend you contact Greg Byrge or Karen Satterberg at Lea Hill for questions about the masks. Because it is a resident-driven project it would likely be up to them as to how many they are able to make and distribute at this time.
Ditto on Pams comment. Can Wesley Des Moines purchase masks?
Thanks for your comment Holly. Please direct this question to the front desk staff at Lea Hill at (253) 876-6000.
Holly, since you are a Wesley resident we are providing masks at no charge. Limit 1 per person. Contact me by email or X2013
I’m so proud of our staff and residents for making masks. This story makes me feel good every time I read it. For those like Holly who have asked about paying for a mask and now know that these are free to residents and staff, please consider making a gift to Wesley Community Foundation’s Greatest Need fund to help combat COVID-19, or to another fund of your choice like Hospice or Circle of Concern.
A while ago, the Foundation purchased sewing machines for residents at Des Moines. Did you know that some of these machines are now being used to make the very same masks described in the story?
Wesley Gives BIG! is on Wednesday, May 6th and it is a perfect opportunity to support Wesley Community Foundation which helps the people, programs and places that make Wesley such a great place to live. As one resident said when sending in her donation, THINK BIG. We like that. Let’s all THINK BIG and Give BIG for Wesley on May 6th.
I was the recipient of one of the masks, and I was so surprised and pleased. I have used it several times yo go to the grocery store and post office. Thank you! Dianne Snell