Have mask, will ship! Women bless others through mask-sewing ministry

HICKORY GROVE—In early March, Beth Ramsey of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church invited several ladies to her house to learn how to make masks.

They had no idea what was ahead for them or anyone involved with this sewing project. As they learned and continued to sew, their number grew to nine sewing at Mount Vernon UMC, 10 at nearby Trinity UMC, two at Canaan UMC, and two from Unity Baptist rounded out the group.

In the beginning, several members sewed together, but as the virus spread and social distancing became truly necessary, the groups separated into their homes to carry on this work. They were fortunate to have specific areas of specialty—there were cutters, ironers, sewers, trimmers and runners to gather and mail masks.

In two months, these ladies have given out and shipped more than 4,000 masks as of May 15. They have gone to 20 states and throughout South Carolina.

Each sewing member said she has been blessed to know that her time spent in sewing might be the thing that keeps another person or family member safe from the virus.

God has blessed the group through the donations of friends and church members. Many have helped with gifts of cloth, elastic and cash for mailing, as well as envelopes.

The ladies are as follows: The Rev. Beth Drennen, Beth Ramsey, Beth Moore, Meredith Wilkerson, Margaret Rhodes, Amy Lawton, Pearl Lemieux, Karen Murphy, Kaye Bellengar, Lonie Dover, Betty Wallace, Alene Bolin, Rebecca Hullender, LaVerne Spoon, Linda Hines, SueAnna McPhail, Diane Wine, Margaret Bailey, Peggy Dickson, Joyce Halverson, Terri Versen, Nancy Faulkenberry and Suzanne Jones.