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Mensch Masks
Thank you for Making Mensch Masks to Help Save Lives
We are excited to share that we have exceeded our goal, delivering 1,410 face masks to The Market at 25th, serving as the distribution center.
In early June, St. James’s and Beth Ahabah launched a joint project, with a goal to make 1,000 face masks, packaged with educational information, to be distributed to Richmond’s most vulnerable populations. The project was designed to address the fact that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color, particularly African Americans, resulting in more serious symptoms and a greater number of deaths. This disparity is the consequence of a continuing global inequity between races and cultures in our country. While instituting fair housing policies, improving employment opportunities, and taking other steps to mitigate economic inequality will help in the future, there are ways to reduce the risk of infection in vulnerable populations right now. Underserved communities have less access to face masks and lack critical information such as mask-handling instructions. Increasing access and education can go a long way in helping folks protect themselves and others against unnecessary exposure to coronavirus.
A Heartfelt thank you to our nearly 100 volunteers:
• 2 Project Coordinators
• 1 Delivery-Driver Coordinator, who scheduled and tracked 188 trips
• 1 Graphic Designer, who developed CDC-informed educational material
• 1 Sewing Advisor, who provided instructions and served as consultant for sewers
• 3 Buyers, who purchased interfacing, elastic and material, much of which was made in Ghana.
• 36 Fabric Cutters, who measured and cut 94 yards of fabric and 47 yards of interfacing into 6” x 9” rectangles to expedite sewing
• 27 Seamstresses, who stitched love into thousands of pieces of fabric to make 1,410 attractive and functional face masks
• 13 Packagers, who individually assembled each face mask with an educational card (explaining why and how to wear face masks) and sealed in ziplock bags for sanitary distribution
• 25 Drivers, who drove across Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and Richmond, front porch to front porch, to maintain a safe distance and efficient delivery of materials to volunteers between each stage of the process.
Many thanks to The Market at 25th for their exceptional partnership and to Beth Ahabah and St. James’s staff, who helped with coordination, promotion and served as a “universal drop-point” for deliveries.
What great work!
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SOCIAL ACTION and SOCIAL JUSTICE – DOERS CALLED TO ACTION
St. James’s DOERS have the opportunity to join neighbors and friends at Congregation Beth Ahabah to provide Mensch Masks that will be distributed to some of Richmond’s most vulnerable citizens. Mensch is a Hebrew word that suggests “goodwill, good action or person to the core.” Many DOERS will be needed to join our neighbors in filling all the social distancing assembly line roles that will make possible this good and important action!
See below all the details regarding this important partnership ministry and please signup as soon as you can to be part of this amazing ministry.
If you have questions, please contact, Nancy Warman – Director of Servant Ministry
We encourage folks to take pictures of yourselves with the masks you make (not just the masks)
Examples: You sewing … at your sewing machine, sewing by hand, your masks on a work surface with you behind them
Please send your photos to St. James’s – [email protected] AND Beth Ahabah – [email protected] (note the dot between l and allen)
Thank you for being a part of this opportunity with our friends at Beth Ahabah!
