Edmonton ladies increase practically $ 20,000 for charity by stitching masks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – Edmonton

Two Edmonton women used their time stuck at home due to a novel coronavirus pandemic to give back to their community by sewing masks for charity.

Jean Henderson has volunteered in the Edmonton Police Service’s victim services unit, K-Days, Edmonton Indy, Gray Cup, Tournament of Hearts, CFR, and countless other events.

But with COVID-19 forcing so many events to be canceled, the senior found another way to help.

“I thought I could sew some masks.”

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As of April, Henderson has sold 1,600 masks through donation to the Alberta SPCA.

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“I sent them to the States, I sent them all over Canada,” she said.

She raised more than $ 8,200.

“It’s just about giving something back to the community. I mean, the community has done us good. “

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The donations go to the Help for Animals program, which delivers food to families who are struggling to feed their pets.

“I have had animals and think that is why people have to give them up? And don’t have their income to be able to afford their pet? Because pets really belong in your family, ”explained Henderson.

“It’s wonderful. We rely on donations to do our jobs, especially at a time when revenues are declining and costs are rising,” said Dan Kobe, Alberta SPCA communications manager.

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Henderson’s masks can be picked up in Edmonton or Sherwood Park and orders are taken by email at [email protected]

She said it was a family affair to do it – with her daughters and husband helping too. Strangers have risen too.

“A lot has been donated. Lori’s fabric [Country Cottage] Sherwood Park donated, quilters donated, people dropped supplies when they picked up their masks, ”she said.

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All the sewing was rough on their machines, she noted. One is no longer usable.

“A machine has white threads and a machine has black threads. My machine with the white thread urgently needs an overhaul. I’m at a machine right now. But I’ll just change the thread, ”she said with a smile.

“It’s a lot of work for a person and I know they are out all day, mostly every day. We are inspired. People like that help us all get through difficult times like this, ”said Kobe.

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Carolan Lassiter’s sewing machine is also trained all over the city.

“This is my mother’s sewing machine, so this sewing machine is very, very old. After that it will surely have to be serviced, ”she said.

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To date, Lassiter has made more than 1,400 masks in support of the Edmonton Food Bank.

“I can’t imagine losing your job and not being able to support your family. I think that would be a terrible, terrible situation. “

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She chose the blackboard because her father volunteered there.

Donations for their masks have exceeded $ 10,000. But she does not accept all the praise, but calls it a community effort.

“A lot of people in our neighborhood volunteered to bring me fabric and elastic bands. I had a couple of girls who offered to cut fabric so I could sew faster, ”she explained.

Lassiter has secured a number of assignments for key workers, including Tim Hortons staff, Costco staff and guards at the Edmonton Remand Center. When the pandemic broke out, she was unable to do any of her jobs.

“I basically lost both of my professions. I’m an artist here in town and run a day care center for children. I was looking for something that would give back to the community, ”she explained.

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When her hands started to hurt, she bought a rotary cutting mat and rotary cutter to make it easier.

Lassiter takes orders for masks through her Facebook page Mama Katz Mosaic.

“I will sew masks for as long as people want them and there is a need. The board will still need money for a long time in the future. “

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