As I am missing the experience of going to Mass especially on Palm Sunday and facing Holy Week in isolation- I want to talk about my experience helping neighbors.  Many have requested mask through next door- so I have been sewing like crazy & hanging them on my door for pick up.  I have had so many requests that I have depleted my materials – I put in a curb pick up order at JoAnne’s Fabrics- the price was $19.99 – I thought for a few minutes if I wanted to spend this much but I went ahead & placed the order – the next day someone picked up their mask & left a $20 donation- I did not ask for donations. Then I found elastic on Etsy – cost 9.50 – again I hesitated but placed the order – the next person who picked up a mask left a $10 donation- again I found a site selling elastic- cost $20 but would shipped quicker – again the hesitation but went ahead & placed an order, today someone picked up their masks & left a $20 donation — God is good!  So many neighbors have stepped up to help – I placed a bin by my door & people have been dropping off supplies & now several other neighbors are sewing!  So this is my Holy Week experience- I say a prayer as I make each mask to ensure the safety of the wearer.

This has been such a powerful uplifting experience, so far over 200 masks have  been made and 18 kind neighbors are helping to sew. New requests continue to come in everyday. What amazes me is that these masks are meant to protect people around you not to protect the person wearing it, so in this most difficult time people are thinking beyond there own needs.

Learning about the neighbors wanting a mask has been so inspiring, they are out there risking their lives to provide essential services to our community. They are:

Working  in hospice

Volunteering in the hospital

Working the NICU

Daycare workers

Taking care of elderly parents

Sign language interpreters

Taking care of a child with autoimmune disorder

Working for Austin wildlife rescue

Postal workers

Working In grocery stores, to name a few.

At the beginning of this journey I thought I can sit around being sad about missing my family or I can do one small thing to help, I thank God that I have this skill to share. It brings me joy to know that so many people are wearing a mask that as I created  it I prayed, “Dear Lord bless and protect the person wearing this mask.”  Amen

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