Rotarians make masks to fight COVID-19

Rotarian Megan Bowman sews masks.

Brazil Rotarians Leah Schuch and Megan Bowman have not been sitting

idly by since the Rotary Club regular weekly lunch meetings were

suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As they abide by the

Experienced seamstress Leah Schuch turns her attention to making masks to fight COVID-19.

Governor’s executive order to stay home, the two ladies have kept busy

volunteering their sewing skills and materials to make fabric face

masks as they sheltered there. During this time of pandemic,

disposable medical grade face masks, called personal protective

equipment (or PPE), are in increasingly limited supply. They have been

donating the face masks in Rotary “Service Above Self” for those who

need them to reduce their personal risk as they serve and work in

areas that put them in frequent contact with the public. They point

out that although the handmade masks are not medical grade, they can

be worn over medical-type masks to increase the life of disposable

ones, and for most who receive the masks, they provide some

protection. Working in tandem, the two women have provided 126 masks

to Kroger’s grocery store employees. Leah has sent masks to area

doctors, nurses, firefighters, Clay County Health department for the

nursing homes, and Vigo County emergency management for sheriffs, as

well as family and friends. Megan has also sent masks to the Lawrence

County courthouse, Community Hospital in Indianapolis, Carepartners

Rehab in Asheville, NC, ABA Clinic in Indianapolis, and the Vigo

County EMS.