LOCAL ORGANIZATION PRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES FACE MASKS different types of masks, and soon got Kathy Seamstresses who had teamed up with Hour of Need then resorted to using excess fabric Gahm involved. to construct straps for the masks. When the coronavirus made its way into “They started texting me that they had an Kentucky, team members from Hour of idea,” Gahm said. “The next morning we hit Soon, Hour of Need began receiving Need hit the ground running. Beginning hundreds of requests for masks from the ground running.” with just a few individuals, the organization many individuals and organizations such soon grew to include 200 volunteers. as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Gahm began purchasing supplies from JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts, starting with 100% Matthews Fire Department, Louisville Hour of Need’s mission is to create and Metro Police Department, and even cotton, solid-colored fabrics and elastic deliver do-it-yourself face masks for health hospitals based in New York City. straps. Supplies were already limited at the care workers, first responders and essential- store, and two days after her first visit, the to-life public servants, free of charge. The St. Matthews Fire Department had no Jo-Ann Fabrics staff closed the store. masks until they contacted Hour of Need Kentucky couple Kurt Pitzer and Kim Levin Gahm then converted her dining room table leaders. first came up with the idea for Hour of Need into a mask-making area, and got to work. in March, when Kentucky Governor Andy As many as 63 seamstresses were Beshear announced a stay-at-home order volunteering for Hour of Need at one point, Some of the first responders who received to prevent the spread of coronavirus within masks from Hour of Need were having although not all were actively sewing at the state. one time, and 10 drivers were active at the issues with the elastic straps on the masks. In response, Hour of Need began using highest point of production. Pitzer and Levin began doing research on ribbon, but the ribbon soon ran out. Writer / Cassady Lamb Photography Provided
AUGUST 2020
