News and Events

Besides preparing for online/alternative delivery of classes, faculty, staff, and alumni are sewing masks for area healthcare providers.

Last week ATCC instructor Joni Jacobson received a call from her friend Dr. Deb Dittberner, a family physician and Chief Medical Officer at Alomere in Alexandria. The need for personal protective equipment (PPE) has been rising as the COVID-19 pandemic marches on, and with medical masks in short supply around the world, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) endorsed handmade masks as a last resort. Dr. Dittberner requested help in rallying the community to create masks from cotton fabrics and elastic.

Jacobson turned to the Helping Hands of Alexandria Facebook group, a community effort started this month to provide aid to those who are struggling or unable to leave their homes due to COVID-19. When the mask-making effort began, the group had around 100 members. At the time of this writing, the group has nearly 2,500 members, with more joining every day.

Using Calvary Church in Alexandria as the official drop-off point for masks and materials, people from around the community began cutting hundreds of rectangles, and sewing hundreds of masks. Those who were unable to sew donated material.

 “It’s a fun, positive way to help the community,” Jacobson said. “We’ve got 8-year-olds sewing masks during their home schooling, all the way up to seniors at Grand Arbor using their sewing skills to make masks. The effort across the community has been heartwarming and nothing short of astonishing.”

Since this effort began just four days ago, more than 2,000 masks have been sewn, and word continues to spread. Requests (and donations) have come in from health providers in St. Cloud, Duluth, Bismarck, and Rochester and others. In our area and across the state, corrections facilities, school districts, group homes, and nursing homes are also requesting masks from the community. Materials have been depleted across many local stores, so folks are turning to online retailers in further pursuit of mask-making.

Jacobson notes that the masks can be used for personal protection as well as for helping supplement the healthcare industry. “We started this to help our local health providers, but now we hope to make sure that anyone who wants a mask can get one,” she said. The masks are washable and reusable, making them an efficient option for personal use.

But the work doesn’t stop there. Rondi Wussow and Jacobson are both instructors in the ATCC Early Childhood Education program, and recognize the importance of childcare providers – especially now. Wussow is working to get sanitizing supply boxes in the hands of childcare providers around the area.

ATCC English instructor Annie Clark enlisted the help of two of her daughters, both ATCC alumni, to sew masks over the weekend. “I bought Minnesota Wild fabric to make PJs for my family. Instead, we made masks with the fabric,” she said. “I chose to participate because I had the materials at home and the skills to do it. It’s not me. It’s WE.”

Materials and completed masks can be dropped off at Calvary Church in Alexandria:

• Cotton fabric, preferably with a nice print
• Cotton flannel for backing
• Rope elastic (beading cord elastic or 1/8” flat elastic) or 14-16” ties can be attached at each corner

For sewing instructions and material sizes for Adult and Child sized masks, check out this tutorial from The Turban Project.