“First let me stress that this is a TEAM effort – not just me,” said Andrea. “There is an army of people working on this.”
Andrea’s husband, Dave Wilson, has been “earning his Home Ec Badge” cutting down elastic and trimming the white cotton fabric Andrea uses. Their neighbor Ruthie Barber has donated fabric already ironed and cut to size. Friends like Tom Trotter have been calling EMTs, police departments, and local governments to identify people most in need, and delivering clean masks. Even in isolation, this project connects everyone and provides a valuable service to the community.
Andrea was inspired by the appeals she heard all across the country for medical supplies. “Last week, I was watching the news – and struggling with depression. I think a lot of people are feeling depressed with all of this, but I also have to medicate for depression. It broke my heart that people are begging for help. And I thought, I could do something.”
As Andrea was forming this resolution, her friend Donna Casey, a retired nurse, happened to drive by. With Donna’s assistance, Andrea connected with Dr. Jerry Bradley, a doctor in LaConte Medical Center’s emergency department. Two days later, Andrea sent 66 masks to LaConte hospital. The following day, she had completed 45 masks to be delivered to the VA hospital in Sevierville.
Since she began sewing on March 21, she has made almost 200 surgical masks – averaging 40 to 50 each day.
Andrea is a retired adult with asthma, placing her in the high-risk population. She is also of the generation who learned how to sew practical garments using patterns. When she began this project she was reminded of her grandmother who had been recruited during World War II to help in the war effort domestically. “This reminds me of that,” said Andrea. “As a country, we stepped up. In the current situation, I’m not going to sit by when I can do something to help people at risk – people who might be called next week to come and help me.”
Andrea shared the process she uses to keep the masks as safe as possible. Any donated items from friends or neighbors are placed on her porch to limit in-person contact. Andrea then wipes everything down with Clorox wipes before bringing them into her home. “I’m not a laboratory, but I am doing everything I can think of to keep the masks from contamination. As soon as I receive fabric, it goes straight into the washer on hot. I wear gloves and a mask when I remove the fabric and as I prepare and sew the masks. When completed, each mask is washed in chlorine bleach and placed into airtight Ziplocs for delivery.”
Andrea is sharing this work with the wider community of artists and neighbors. Local businesses including JoAnn Fabrics and Food City have donated materials to the project. While not every institution is accepting handmade masks, Andrea’s friends are helping locate where the need is and who can use them. “I’m not doing any art – this is my art right now,” she said. “I paint, like many artists I suppose, because it feeds my soul and it feels good to connect with people. Making these masks does that for me now. You can feel good about what your hands create.”
When asked how long she will work on this project, she replied, “As long as I can possibly have an impact. Once LeConte and the VA hospitals, local EMTs and first responders, and public works employees have a stockpile, I’ll continue to send them to cities in need – like New York, Washington D.C., wherever.”
In the past weeks Arrowmont artists have reached out to stay connected. They let us know how they’re doing and shared their experiences while staying socially distanced or in isolation. Andrea’s project is one of the stories that show the value of creativity and meaningful connection during the current pandemic.
If you are inspired to help Andrea or to make masks for your community, Andrea has shared the pattern and resources that have helped her, along with a list of all of the people who are a part of this project with her. And, she encourages anyone to reach out to her on Facebook to connect personally. Her final thoughts:
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE FOR HELPING OUR DOCTORS, NURSES, EMTS FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY EMPLOYEES & OTHERS IN NEED.
Pattern/Video for mask that follow CDC guidelines:
Other artists sewing in Sevier County:
Crystal Lynn Sharp is a painter and jeweler, co-president of Sevierville Commons Arts Council, and an Arrowmont student
Elizabeth Cole is a jeweler and doll maker, and an Arrowmont student
Jan Stinson is a quilter and owns The Cherry Pit quilting shop on Bruce St, Sevierville
Christine Flamming is a woodturner at the Sevierville Senior Center
Marilyn Davenport is a jeweler and co-president of Sevierville Commons Arts Council
Andy Roe is a former Sevierville resident
Delivery & Coordination:
Tom Trotter – architect at Trotter & Associates in Gatlinburg. He has been making calls to see who needs masks, and delivering them.
Donna Casey is a local retired ER nurse. She also delivers masks and coordinates with LeConte & Mountain Home VA Hospitals.
Donors of fabric, bleach, ¼” elastic, gallon Ziploc bags:
Tom Trotter, a friend of Arrowmont, has donated fabric
Jim Ogle, a friend of Arrowmont, has donated supplies
Ruthie Barber is Andrea and Dave’s neighbor. She has donated fabric, as well as cutting, ironing and preparing the patterned fabric for Andrea to sew
Debi Veranth, Arrowmont volunteer and longtime friend, has donated fabric
Fran Day, Arrowmont director of institutional advancement, has donated fabric, bleach, sanitizer and supplies
Olga & Michael, owners of Red Oak Bistro on Glades Rd, Gatlinburg, have donated fabric
JoAnn Fabrics in Governors Crossing, Sevierville have donated fabric and thread and provided discounts on other supplies
Mignonne Coykendall, former Arrowmont Board member and friend, has donated fabric and supplies
Kathy Brooks, a neighbor in the community, has donated gallon Ziploc bags
Rosemary Nichols, chief of Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department, has donated supplies and bleach
Junior Watson, manager of Food City in Gatlinburg and a friend of Arrowmont, has donated gallon Ziploc bags
And others that are leaving supplies on my porch (social distancing) that I don’t even know about.
