Celebrate the Good: South Bend Nonprofit Helps Solve Mask Shortage

By April, most of the businesses and nonprofits in the U.S. could not operate the same way they had in the first three months of the year. Employees were working from home, nonessential businesses were forced to close their brick and mortar locations, and nonprofits had to abandon traditional, large gathering fundraising events. Sew Loved, a nonprofit based in South Bend Indiana that uses sewing to teach women the life skills of perseverance, patience, and problem-solving, was affected just like the rest of the country. When the pandemic reached their community, they were forced to halt in-person operations, essentially freezing their mission. This is how they overcame this challenge and the greater community benefitted as a result. 

Since its founding in 2012, Sew Loved has made a great impact in its community, from teaching simple sewing skills to developing an industrial sewing training course to teach new skills and fill the employment gap in the industrial sewing industry. Continuing their mission and commitment to solving community-based challenges, Sew Loved stepped up to solve the mask shortage affecting hospitals and the surrounding areas of South Bend. The organization began sewing N95 mask covers as well as surgical masks both of which are approved designs by the Beacon Health hospital network. The hospital donated medical-grade sheeting in order to make the masks out of quality and reusable materials. Furthermore, the Sew Loved network that was initially sent home with no hopes of working together until the pandemic is under control now worked asynchronously to solve the mask shortage problem. For many, this separated but community effort offered a reprieve from the isolation of the pandemic. Sew Loved sent the volunteers the mask-making materials through the mail, and the volunteers mailed the completed masks back using prepaid postage. The project quickly became a well-organized network of hundreds of sewers creating masks and gowns when they are needed the most.

Sew Loved not only found a way to create a network of hundreds of sewers all working to solve a common problem, but they also made a serious impact to solve the chronic shortage of personal protective equipment affecting so many communities since the pandemic began.  The initial plan hoped to create 5,000 masks and incorporate the core, loyal following of the organization. This was quite an underestimate. With hundreds of sewers, they have created and donated 85,000 masks and have 5,000 more to distribute. This was made possible through a well-organized and safe network of volunteers as well as the generosity of donors who gave over $45,000. If this impact was not enough to show their incredible work, with the conclusion of their mask-making project last month, the staff at Sew Loved has been tapped as a production shop for state-approved N95 masks that will be used to supplement first responder supplies and build a state stockpile. 

The story of Sew Loved and their mask-making project is just one of many stories in which individuals and organizations stepped up to help when communities were hurting the most. Additionally, they engaged hundreds of individuals who had the opportunity to feel connected to a network at a time when isolation was commonplace. From their health-conscious organization of volunteers to their incredible results, the Sew Loved mask-making project was successful in all regards. This story is a wonderful example of how communities persevere and innovate to overcome novel challenges together.

Have a great story about Celebrating the Good? Reach out to info@nmblstrategies.com to share it and have it featured this December.