By Roger Allen
Montezuma area volunteers are making a significant contribution to fulfilling a request for seamstresses to sew – as soon as possible – 900 isolation gowns for use by staff at UnityPoint – Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC).
The need became acute as the hospital prepared its response to the COVID-19 virus.
Soon there were 33 volunteer seamstresses involved from the Montezuma and Lake Ponderosa areas, and 52 in all in Poweshiek and Iowa counties.
Ironically, two of the very involved volunteers – Kari and Dave Elbert of Lake Ponderosa – do not sew! The ways they are contributing are described in a spotlight on them later in this article.
Local seamstresses have completed 375 of the kits. It takes one to two hours to sew a gown, depending on the expertise of the seamstress.
Late word is that no additional volunteers are needed, as the gowns the present volunteers are working on are expected to be finished next week.
Project Beginnings
For background on the beginnings and progress of the project, The Record newspaper in Montezuma contacted Angelina Ahrens, Director of Development at GRMC. She explained that on March 31, Jennifer Havens, CEO of GRMC, asked her to help find fabric and supplies for volunteers, for sewing isolation gowns for the healthcare workers in preparation for the hospital’s COVID-19 response.
Together they contacted Three Sisters Fabric in Montezuma for help in procuring fabric and supplies needed to make the gowns. Requirements included 100 percent polyester fabric, plus ribbing, Velcro, elastic, and doublewide bias tape. Three Sisters immediately reached out to their fabric suppliers and ordered as much as they had in stock.
The effort to organize seemed to happen organically as word got out in the communities. There were shared Facebook posts putting the call out for seamstresses, on or about March 31.
Efforts began immediately in Grinnell. Sally Lang volunteered to coordinate all seamstresses in the Grinnell and surrounding communities.
Walmart donated almost $200 worth of fabric and supplies, and an estimated 25 of their associates generously contributed over $650 toward more fabric and supplies.
Total Choice Shipping began printing and donating the full-size patterns for anyone who wanted to sew.
Three Sisters to the Rescue
Angelina said, “I began looking for fabric and Three Sisters again contacted their suppliers.” Complicating this is the fact that fabric and the need for isolation gowns are part of the national and international personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage.
Angelina said, “Three Sisters came through for us in a big way!” They found a large supply and ordered over 1,700 yards. (That’s about a mile: 1,760 yards!)
The hospital is mostly paying for the fabric, but Elbert reported, “We got a $500 donation from Dave Arendt at Peoples Savings Bank in Montezuma. We’ve had donations come in from various other community members and businesses as well.”
Following are “Q and A” (questions and answers) from The Record’s extended interview with “non-sewing” volunteers Kari and Dave Elbert.
Q. WHY DID YOU GET INVOLVED?
A. Kari: “I got involved when I saw a post on Facebook asking for experienced seamstresses and my mother is one of the best. So I called her and she committed to make 25 gowns for Sally Lang.”
“Sally delivered everything she needed to make them. On Easter my family did a Zoom Chat together and I asked how it was going. She said it was taking a long time to cut the fabric before she could get to what she really enjoys – the sewing.”
“We told her we would cut the fabric in the kitchen while she sewed in her sewing room. (social distancing, of course.) We spent that Monday cutting and soon realized this would take a village and probably villages. I talked to my cousin and she works at the hospital and she said, ‘they need these gowns yesterday.’”
“We took the rest of the fabric home to cut and called for reinforcements. My friends at Lake Ponderosa, Bev and Steve Koger and Sue and Keith Cheney, agreed to help cut remaining pieces.”
“I contacted two more friends, Janet VanErsvelde and Julie Fisher, both talented quilters, to help sew the ones Dave and I had ready. Sue Cheney enlisted Janice Albrecht’s help in sewing those she cut. Sally Johnston is quite the recruiter and seamstress.”
“The next day I texted Sally Lang and asked if she needed help recruiting seamstresses. She said yes, as two of her volunteers needed their sewing machines repaired.”
“That night I put a post on the Lake Ponderosa Facebook page asking for help cutting and sewing. My phone blew up with responses from “Lakers and Townies” volunteering or sharing and tagging their friends.”
“I called Sally with the responses and she assigned me to work directly with Angelina Ahrens at the hospital and Three Sisters since the fabric was coming from them. I called us ‘Rosie the Riveters.'”
“We designated my husband, Dave, as “pick up and delivery man. I recruited more volunteers and handled all the comments on Facebook; as noted, I do not sew.”
Q. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO HELP?
A. “We moved here seven years ago in July. Kari sells advertising and is a Norwex representative. Dave is newly-retired from selling plastic resin for 31 years all over Iowa, so driving is something he enjoys. We are meeting so many new people (from their front porches of course).”
“We felt helpless during this time, knowing every day healthcare and other service workers were struggling to stay safe. I couldn’t sew masks like friends were doing, but I am trained on how to educate people how to stay safe using their Norwex products. A lot of my customers are volunteering to help me, which makes this project even more special.”
Q. WHAT ARE YOUR INDIVIDUAL ROLES?
A. Kari: “We have really been doing everything together. I recruit seamstresses, drop off and deliver and ask sewers how many they can do. Then we make up a kit that includes fabric, bias tape, ribbing and Velcro. I also collect photos of the seamstresses for the hospital to display on the “Donor Wall.” Angelina told me it lights up the hallway. The employees can feel the support.”
”Dave cut out and taped together patterns when we were short of them. He cuts and delivers fabric to seamstresses and picks up finished gowns.”
Q. BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
A. Kari: “I would say staying ahead of the seamstresses who are eager to sew – because cutting the fabric and ribbing is another labor of love. Also, educating volunteers by only email and text messages, since we couldn’t bring everyone together.
Q. WHAT HAVE YOU ESPECIALLY ENJOYED?
A. Dave: “I have enjoyed the volunteers I have met; they are the nicest people you can imagine. Everyone was happy to help and they are still helping.”
A. Kari: “When I receive the gowns I can tell they are a labor of love. Some are adding special touches by making their own bias tape.”
“Rhonda Minner sewed a Bible verse inside the gown: ‘Fear not for I am with you always.’ As I am writing this, she called me to ask if I had any more fabric to sew. She shared the reason she chose that verse. She had been listening to Franklin Graham with the Samaritan’s Purse. He has been preaching that we should take the COVID-19 acronym and turn it into Christ Overcame Viruses, Infections and Diseases – Psalm 91, which begins with ‘No harm shall come near your dwelling.’ What a fitting verse to choose. I would love to see the face of the nurse that gets that gown for the first time.”
PROJECT VOLUNTEERS
According to Kari Elbert, these Montezuma area volunteers have donated time and effort to the gowns project: Janet Van Ersvelde, Dave Elbert, Kari Elbert, Julie Fisher, Bev Koger, Sue Cheney, Becky Sinkler, Janice Albrecht, Janice Henry, Lorella Nagle, Stacy Helm, Carolyn Woods, Karen Baethke, Denise Baethke, Rosemary Dotson.
Also, Sally Johnston, Lori Bryan, Nancy Allen, Jan Early, Mary Lu Watson, Cindy McNulty, Larena Widmer, Elaine Hammes, Cecily Unruh, Barb Long, Lorna Christenson, Rhonda Minner, Lola Willrich, Connie Thompson, Wanda Schultz, Sonya Grandstaff, Susan Hutchinson, Nancy Gray and Patti Mahaffey.