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Creative Stitches Workshop NFP (501(c)3) has identified an untapped workforce of sewists that is skilled, eager, and ready to ramp up production of community masks to combat COVID-19. We are seeking donations to fund this project: each dollar will contribute to our efforts to #StopTheSpread. The bottom line is this: We source materials. We pay sewists. We give away masks.
The nationwide mask shortage leaves our communities, Peoria included, vulnerable to the economic and health implications of the spread of this pandemic. We are currently in talks with several organizations around Peoria who can help us identify sewists to hire, and multiple organizations who can help us disseminate masks to the most at-risk people in our community. Your support means dollars in the pockets of sewists and masks on the faces of people in our community. Please contact us here or at [email redacted] with any questions! Thank you so much for your tax-deductible contribution!
*******************************************************
*UPDATE* June 14, 2020
With your funding help, Creative Stitches Workshop has donated over 1,700 masks to local organizations that can distribute them in underserved neighborhoods.
Who is wearing Creative Stitches Workshop community facemasks?
Thank you to all of the local organizations that are helping us donate facemasks to members of our community!
- Catholic Charities
- The Center for prevention of abuse
- The Center for Youth and Family Solutions
- Dream Center Peoria
- East Bluff Community Center
- George Washington Carver Community Center
- Heartland Health Services
- LULA Peoria
- OSF Faith Community Nurse
- OSF Strive
- Peoria Area Food Bank
- Peoria Police Department
- Phoenix Community Development Services
- The Salvation Army: Community Center
- The Salvation Army: Family Food Center
- Sophia's Angel's Kitchen
- Unity Place: Human Service Center
Some of those not pictured above include:
-the Resident Officer Homes of the Peoria Police Department,
-JOLT Harm Reduction,
-Human Service Center - Residential Re-Entry
-Peoria Rescue Mission,
- the Food Bank at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church,
-Neighborhood House
-Friendship House
-Safe Families for Children Peoria
-LACC: urban rural partnership with Lacon, IL
in addition to essential workers around our community.
*******************************************************
Meet some of our amazing sewists!
"My grandmother taught me to quilt when I was 6 so that’s when I learned to love sewing! My passion is still quilting, but I love helping with masks!" - Kay Sheets
"I learned to sew while in the military, and when I heard about the need for masks I knew I had to help. I'm currently in the EMT class at ICC and as a hospital corpsman in the Navy I know that medicine can be a stressful industry, especially in these times. The last thing frontline workers need is to be worried about - or anyone for that matter - is not having what they need to be properly protected." - Bryan Harmon
"I started sewing in 7th grade both as a hobby and as a seamstress. I’ve sewn wedding dresses and suits, along with alterations for myself. Now I love to sew for my 15 great grandchildren across 3 different states!" - Resi Howard
"I'm 18 and I study computer science. I sew costumes with my dad and knit in my spare time." - Mara Dimitroff
"I took Home Ec in junior high school and learned how to sew. I didn't really have an interest in it again until a few years ago. I bought myself a sewing machine and made a couple shirts for my grandkids then never touched it again until early April when I was given a homemade cloth mask to wear at work. I pulled out my machine and found a simple pattern. I had to watch a YouTube tutorial on how to thread my machine and got to sewing & I haven't stopped!" - Teresa Roeschley
"I grew up in Eugene, Oregon and was taught to sew by my mother. For a time, I sewed some of my own clothes. I attended college, medical school, and general surgery residency at the University of Chicago. During that time I only sewed curtains for my various apartments. Then for many years my stitching/sewing was restricted to surgical procedures. I retired from surgery 4 years ago and now I am sewing face masks. Of all my sewing venues, surgery was my most successful - luckily for patients!" - Bev Ketel, MD
"I am originally from Chicago, IL and then I attended Bradley University in 1997. I met my husband while studying communications and now reside in Washington, IL. We have 4 children that are in several activities. I usually spend my free time volunteering for different craft projects to working as a mobile expert for T-Mobile. Working on sewing projects and crafting are super ways to show my creativity and have fun." - Tasha Nettles
"I’ve been costuming for Peoria Players for 28 years. My favorite costumes are from the early 1900’s because my costuming partner researches clothing and she has vintage clothing from that era. I’m sewing masks because the theater is closed due to Covid-19 and my volunteer work is also on hold." - Sandy Cheeseman
The nationwide mask shortage leaves our communities, Peoria included, vulnerable to the economic and health implications of the spread of this pandemic. We are currently in talks with several organizations around Peoria who can help us identify sewists to hire, and multiple organizations who can help us disseminate masks to the most at-risk people in our community. Your support means dollars in the pockets of sewists and masks on the faces of people in our community. Please contact us here or at [email redacted] with any questions! Thank you so much for your tax-deductible contribution!
*******************************************************
*UPDATE* June 14, 2020
With your funding help, Creative Stitches Workshop has donated over 1,700 masks to local organizations that can distribute them in underserved neighborhoods.
Who is wearing Creative Stitches Workshop community facemasks?
Thank you to all of the local organizations that are helping us donate facemasks to members of our community!
- Catholic Charities
- The Center for prevention of abuse
- The Center for Youth and Family Solutions
- Dream Center Peoria
- East Bluff Community Center
- George Washington Carver Community Center
- Heartland Health Services
- LULA Peoria
- OSF Faith Community Nurse
- OSF Strive
- Peoria Area Food Bank
- Peoria Police Department
- Phoenix Community Development Services
- The Salvation Army: Community Center
- The Salvation Army: Family Food Center
- Sophia's Angel's Kitchen
- Unity Place: Human Service Center
Some of those not pictured above include:
-the Resident Officer Homes of the Peoria Police Department,
-JOLT Harm Reduction,
-Human Service Center - Residential Re-Entry
-Peoria Rescue Mission,
- the Food Bank at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church,
-Neighborhood House
-Friendship House
-Safe Families for Children Peoria
-LACC: urban rural partnership with Lacon, IL
in addition to essential workers around our community.
*******************************************************
Meet some of our amazing sewists!
"My grandmother taught me to quilt when I was 6 so that’s when I learned to love sewing! My passion is still quilting, but I love helping with masks!" - Kay Sheets
"I learned to sew while in the military, and when I heard about the need for masks I knew I had to help. I'm currently in the EMT class at ICC and as a hospital corpsman in the Navy I know that medicine can be a stressful industry, especially in these times. The last thing frontline workers need is to be worried about - or anyone for that matter - is not having what they need to be properly protected." - Bryan Harmon
"I started sewing in 7th grade both as a hobby and as a seamstress. I’ve sewn wedding dresses and suits, along with alterations for myself. Now I love to sew for my 15 great grandchildren across 3 different states!" - Resi Howard
"I'm 18 and I study computer science. I sew costumes with my dad and knit in my spare time." - Mara Dimitroff
"I took Home Ec in junior high school and learned how to sew. I didn't really have an interest in it again until a few years ago. I bought myself a sewing machine and made a couple shirts for my grandkids then never touched it again until early April when I was given a homemade cloth mask to wear at work. I pulled out my machine and found a simple pattern. I had to watch a YouTube tutorial on how to thread my machine and got to sewing & I haven't stopped!" - Teresa Roeschley
"I grew up in Eugene, Oregon and was taught to sew by my mother. For a time, I sewed some of my own clothes. I attended college, medical school, and general surgery residency at the University of Chicago. During that time I only sewed curtains for my various apartments. Then for many years my stitching/sewing was restricted to surgical procedures. I retired from surgery 4 years ago and now I am sewing face masks. Of all my sewing venues, surgery was my most successful - luckily for patients!" - Bev Ketel, MD
"I am originally from Chicago, IL and then I attended Bradley University in 1997. I met my husband while studying communications and now reside in Washington, IL. We have 4 children that are in several activities. I usually spend my free time volunteering for different craft projects to working as a mobile expert for T-Mobile. Working on sewing projects and crafting are super ways to show my creativity and have fun." - Tasha Nettles
"I’ve been costuming for Peoria Players for 28 years. My favorite costumes are from the early 1900’s because my costuming partner researches clothing and she has vintage clothing from that era. I’m sewing masks because the theater is closed due to Covid-19 and my volunteer work is also on hold." - Sandy Cheeseman