Chamber of Commerce volunteers
sew masks to be given away

Debbie Snapp
ECB Publishing, Inc.

The Monticello-Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce's staff and volunteers are busy making much-needed cotton face masks for anybody in need of one. With the coronavirus pandemic still wreaking havoc on life as we know it, we will probably be using face coverings for quite some time now.

On any given weekday, the “chamber sweatshop” (as they are calling themselves) is open to volunteers who are wanting to participate in this project of cutting, folding, ironing and stitching together colorful materials to create a face-covering; though you must heed to social distancing as required by law, Chamber Executive Director Katrina Richardson adds.

Richardson says she began working on this project about a month or so ago, and started sewing together masks in her free time out of boredom and a need to fill her evenings of no sports on television.
She then invited a few friends to join her, and from there, her project grew.

The masks that the chamber volunteers make are now being shared with local essential workers and first responders, and several have been passed on to area churches and elderly residents.

If you are in need of a mask, contact Richardson at the chamber at (850) 997-5552, or come by the chamber during business hours and pick one up. The mask will be given at no charge.

If you would like to see the live sewing videos and interviews, it is posted on the Chamber's Facebook Page.

Volunteers have included Kay Buchanan, Alice Sander, Nancy Dodd, Amy McDaniel, Kathy Joiner, Nan Baughman and Michele Arceneaux.

Other very kind people who have added to the cause in some small way are Bill Bippus, Tim Phillips, Katrina Walton, Ron Cichon, Jeannie Beetsma and Carrie Ann & Co.