F E AT U R E S TO R Y
MASKS FOR MEDICAL WORKERS Alabaster boy uses talents to help people, animals By Jeana Durst Lando Aldridge is not like most 8-yearolds. Since he was 6, this Alabaster boy has been putting his sewing skills to work to help aid animals in need through his Hats for Cats project, in which he sews colorful fleece hats to raise money for cat rescue missions and sanctuaries. One Halloween, he observed his mother hand-sewing his costume and took an interest in learning the craft. Soon he connected the dots of how to use his skills to support his love of animals. That love, which started with the family’s rescue kitty Flower, has been nurtured ever since, extending to their Border Collie Storm and host of “pet” chickens. They’ve even been known to invite the chickens for a “dinner at the table” in the backyard. The chickens are so much like family now that Lando has sworn off chicken nuggets or any other chicken dishes, his mom explains. Most recently, Lando has been in the mask-making business with the help of his mother, Francie Ann Vono-Aldridge. (She presses and pins the masks as he sews them.) The “Masks for Medical Workers” project launched when Lando and his mom were watching press conferences about COVID-19 together and he heard that the Jefferson County Department of Health was requesting mask donations on March 27. This was the spark. From there, it just took off. Soon, they were donating masks to area veterinarians, dentists, pharmacies, and other essential workers. The idea quickly grew to incorporate selling masks as well as donating them. And, true to his heart, Lando decided to use proceeds to help atrisk animals. Using the business acumen he had developed through Hats for Cats (he was accustomed to selling his hats at adoption events), Lando has been able to donate more than $2,000 to the Sanctuary Animal Rescue in Alabaster from the sales of masks, and he says he’s only going to stop
when the need stops. When I asked Lando about how his experience could relate to a future career, he said, “One word—vet.” It’s clear this inspired young boy knows what he wants. He’s learned a thing or two about being in the sewing business. “You should never go too fast on a machine because you can break the needle,” Lando says. He’s also learned just how hard work and determination make dreams happen. Now, he’s even taking orders from all over the nation. If you’d like to support his projects, please visit https://francesvono. wixsite.com/hatsforcats.
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