HASKINS, Ohio – Stay-at-home order? No problem.
When Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, issued the order to stay at home March 22 in a statewide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, one Ohio resident set out to give back to the community.
Kelly Hale immediately started her project in her small town of Haskins, making cloth masks with neighbors and family members for health care workers, first responders and members of the Ohio National Guard.
“My niece is a dialysis nurse and asked if I could make her some masks,” said Hale. “But I thought, why stop there.”
Hale learned sewing basics from her mother, honed her skill in high school economics class and has been sewing ever since.
Using fabric collected over the years for other projects, Hale spent nearly 200 hours sewing more than 300 masks on her own before running out of supplies at the end of March.
“I posted in our neighborhood Facebook group and got a huge response,” said Hale. “I’ve had neighbors donate fabric, elastic and ribbon. I’ve also had people pick up fabric to cut for me and another picked up fabric to help me sew.”
The efforts of Hale and her small army of friends and neighbors have allowed her to outfit area doctors, nurses, police and firefighters.
“The police department couldn’t be happier to have received these gifts from Mrs. Hale,” said Colby Carroll, chief of police. “My officers were very grateful for her generosity and thankful for her donation.”
Hale also made more than 30 masks for Ohio National Guard Soldiers, assigned to the HHC 1-148th Infantry Regiment – 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who are assisting the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.
“It was really great to learn what the Soldiers were doing in Northwest Ohio,” said Hale. “I felt proud and happy to help protect them while they are out serving in our communities. The Soldiers were so appreciative, they sent me a video with all of them wearing their masks, saying thank you. I loved that.”
Requests for orders continue to flow in from those on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19.
While focused on medical personnel, first responders, military and others fighting the virus, Hale will provide masks for individuals and families on a case-by-case basis, such as those with autoimmune diseases and families with parents working on the front lines.
With continued help from community donations and extra hands, Hale plans to continue her mission as long as the need is there.
“I have put a bin on the front porch, for both supply donations and so people can pick up their orders,” said Hale. “But sometimes I find little surprises like thank you cards and letters and even cash donations. A little boy even wrote me a thank you letter and contributed his allowance to the cause.”
“It feels wonderful that as a community, we are coming together to support our frontline workers,” Hale said. “If that little piece of fabric I provide makes them feel just a little bit safer while they are putting themselves out there, then I’ll keep doing it.”
Ohio National Guard 2nd Lt. Stephen Reed, who received one of Hale’s masks, called her a local hero. “Even behind the scenes, she is showing that we are in this together, Ohio.”
Hale remains grateful to help any way she can.
“To our frontline workers, God bless them,” she said. “They don’t have a choice but to go to work and put themselves in harm’s way. If there is anything we can do to make it just a little easier for them, I’m glad to be a part of it.”