• Limestone Stars stitch for first responders, community
    Pictured are Michelle Friega and Linda Henson, who contributed an additional 50 masks over the weekend. Henson was inspired to dust off the old sewing machine and begin working, with Michelle helping to press masks. Contributed photo.
  • Limestone Stars stitch for first responders, community
    Mexia Post office thanked Lisa Clark-Paul for making and donating masks for the workers and helping to keep the employees safe during this current time of crisis. Contributed photo.
  • Limestone Stars stitch for first responders, community
    (l-r) Macy Tucker, Trey Tucker, Brayden Tucker, Bonnie Baker, and Thomas Baker all showing off their newly created facemasks. The children took part at home decorating their own face masks for fun on Easter Sunday. Contributed photo.

Limestone Stars stitch for first responders, community

A group of volunteer mask makers has stepped up to serve citizens, employees and many more across Limestone County. The Limestone Stitching Stars is made up of masked residents across the county, contributing the masks to hometown heroes that continue to serve the public in law enforcement and emergency response.

Ladies of the Lake and other groups of sewers have been highlighted online for their efforts. Grassroots maskmaking has become a way for communities to support each other, though it is primarily women working to make the equipment.

Becki Snow organized the Facebook page @ LimestoneStitchingStars, which simply serves as a means to highlight the makers that contribute to first responders and community members in the area. She said that it started as a way to provide first responders with needed masks, but quickly grew into something larger as the group did.

The “Mysterious Mask Makers” began contributing masks and collecting material prior to the official declaration, continuing to provide masks today, extending to gathering other supplies of personal protective equipment, creating surgical caps and gowns.

Prior to the Facebook group’s formation, however, many citizen sewers took it upon themselves to begin making masks. Even before shelter-in-place orders and declarations of disaster were issued, elastic was running in short supply.

In short, the effort began before the group did. Mexia resident Lisa Clark-Paul contributed masks to the Mexia Post Office for employees that continue to work during the crisis along with many community members and staff at Mexia State Supported Living Center.

“I posted on Facebook asking for supplies and who needed them [masks] initially. I got started that same day,” Paul said. Many individuals started contacting her one noting that they were needed at the post office.

Paul has made more than 700 masks so far, and will continue as long as it is needed. When she checked into the post office to see if more was needed, she got another batch ready for the workers.

“It’s important to me because people need to protect themselves and others,” Paul said. “I wanted them to be able to have them even if they couldn’t find them.”

Snow said that the group is handled by moderators on Facebook, and those at community stations who drop off and ensure the masks are sanitary before delivering. Masks are dropped off at Groesbeck Volunteer Fire Department, who then sanitize everything before distribution to first responders and senior citizens.

“We love each other as Texans, we want to be independent and free. When we see the need, we rise to the occasion,” Snow said, highlighting the efforts of the makers as opposed to organizers. “That’s exactly what the citizens of Limestone County have done.”

Linda Henson hadn’t been sewing actively for more than five years, but recent events caused her to step up and dust off the old antique sewing machine. She had completed several projects for grandkids in the last several years, but not more.

She stepped up to begin producing more masks for those in need, enlisting her daughter Michelle Friega to help press the masks. The two accomplished 50 over the weekend, working together to create something positive for community members.

Members of the Shiloh Baptist Church have contributed, of which congregation members have labored to contribute their own masks. They are not alone; many anonymous groups have gotten together to support first responders and healthcare workers in the effort, with Snow requesting others to reach out via Facebook so that they can be anonymously highlighted for their contribution.

Donations are highlighted on the Facebook page, @ LimestoneStitchingStars. Recently, Sheryl Davis and the group “The Masked Brigade” refurbished over 1,000 N95 masks for the Limestone Medical Center. Davis organized a group of individuals to refurbish the masks and assist those throughout the county.

“Mysterious Mask Makers from all over have come together to help our community,” Snow said.

A variety of colors, both patterned and with images like tractors, leopard print and other distinguishable fabrics make up the motley collection of masks being assembled.

Wendy Simmons sewed in her spare time prior to the crisis, turning her collection of cotton fabrics into something for the community while cleaning out her sewing room.

“My husband is probably glad to see it go,” she laughed. “When everything first started, I donated a lot of fabric to the Mexia State School because they needed it.”

She’s continued to make the mask, noting that she’s made more than 300 so far. Snow estimates the group has contributed over 2,000. Simmons is a retired educator from the Mexia area, primarily serving family, friends and public institutions with the masks she makes. She’s made several for family members in Pittsburgh, in addition to supporting area hospitals.

“Every store you go to, they’re out of elastic,” Simmons said. “Because so many people are stepping up.”

She said that it’s caused some to dig out their grandmother’s sewing machines and begin learning the craft. From reading she’s done online, Simmons said that tight-woven cotton is best, though elastic can be substituted with adhesive bandages and even shredded t-shirts as face straps. Rubber bands and ponytail holders.

“I had someone donate some elastic to me,” she said. “The bandages may look crummy, but they are comfortable. I’m trying the t-shirt strings next.”

She’s contributed to both LMC and Parkview hospital, and will continue to make the masks as long as necessary. Volunteers Carol Bostain, Sandy Joyner, Diane Fraley, Rosanne White and Joan Sims Marsh made masks for Mexia LTC Nursing earlier this month. Each individual and sewing/quilting group making the masks has made it their personal mission to contribute to positive overall community health.

“We love our medical and support staff at all our nursing homes, and our wonderful seniors for whom they care,” said group members online. While COVID-19 has not affected the area in comparison to more population-dense locations, citizens have continued their efforts to ensure the situation does not become that way, according to Snow.

The group has also contributed masks to area fire departments, in which Groesbeck Fire/Rescue paid it forward to Windsor Nursing Home and Vincent Home Care. Organizers accredited Rosanne White, Carol Bostain, Diane Fraley and Sandy Joyner of the Fried Bologna Quilting Circle as the creators that went to staff and residents of the homes alike.

Local parent Theressa Tucker used the idea of generosity to make fun family activities, in which children from the Tucker-Baker family learned a new skill in the process. With donated plain white masks, the children used their art skills to decorate their own personal mask. “They really enjoyed it, stated Tucker, “I wanted it to be a learning experience for them so before we decorated them we talked about what it was and why people are wearing them.”

Different distributors are careful to ensure that the masks prevent the spread of infection instead of the opposite. Some groups have remained anonymous and others have come forward, though it is clear that locals have mobilized to support each other in a time of need.

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Groesbeck Journal

P.O. Box 440
Groesbeck, TX 76642
Phone: 254-729-5103
Fax: 254-729-0362