I began doing research and found a local person matching nurses to sewers. Then I redesigned the mask to their specifications with a pleaded insert for a filter also reversible.”

Gina Ogle, Rip N Sew Club member

By Jennifer Jimenez
Twitter: @SCW_Independent

There’s a new group in the community filled with sewers, cutters, kit-makers and drivers in Sun City West serving those in need.

While the “stay at home” order remains in place, the community has found new ways to keep busy. With the Recreation Centers of Sun City West facilities closed, club members shifted to work in quarantine on personal projects.

A group of more than 190 volunteers made up of members from several clubs from Sun City West, including Rip & Sew, Chit Chatters, Beaders and the Palo Verde Patchers answered the call and it’s all in the name of helping health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rip N Sew Club member Gina Ogle posted a photo of a mask she made on Facebook and she began hearing from people with personal stories about the critical needs for masks, with some saying plastic bags were being substituted and she could not believe it.

“I began doing research and found a local person matching nurses to sewers,” she said. “Then I redesigned the mask to their specifications with a pleaded insert for a filter also reversible.”

Masks have primarily been going to health care and nursing homes in the West Valley but have reached as far as the East Valley. One email and YouTube video later, Ms. Ogle had people reaching out daily asking how to get involved.

Essentially, this outfit is ran like an established small business. People donate fabric, elastic and drop it off with runners getting the materials back to Ms. Ogle’s home, which is headquarters. Fabric gets deployed to cutters. Even husbands are involved, cutting squares and strips for masks.

“Cut squares go on to the kitchen table and then bindings strips are ironed,” Ms. Ogle said. “My neighbors are collecting pipe cleaners and jewelry makers are crimping the edges. All the items get put into groups of 10 with an instruction sheet and then sent through quality control before kits are sent out to be made by sewers working from home. When they are done, they send them back and we send them out.”

Not everyone can sew and only 30 percent are assigned to the sewing job. The other 70 percent are volunteers helping in different roles.

“I have people calling asking to donate money and I have them head over to Bob’s Variety store and pick up fabric,” Ms. Ogle said. “I let them know we have people coming to get fabric and it gets delivered with plastic rapping because everyone is buying it up so quick.”

Ms. Ogle said the community of Sun City West has shown up in a big way. She said volunteers are happy to help, giving them something positive to focus on, creating hope.

“Anyone who wants to be involved I find a job for them as I don’t want to deny them a blessing of being involved,” she said.

The group, although nearly a couple hundred strong, acts as one. When supplies run low, Ms. Ogle said the doorbell will ring with material donations of just what they need. While she started as a sewer, Ms. Ogle has quickly moved into a coordinator position, ensuring the organic endeavor remains local with ties coming back to the community. Morning and afternoon shift changes occur daily and volunteers continue to practice social distancing and proper disinfecting procedures, ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved.

Ms. Ogle said Sun City West is shining a bright light on to the community filled with people who just want to give back.

Jennifer Jimenez
Reporter | Sun City West
@SCW_Independent

jjimenez@iniusa.org

I am passionate about sports and community writing and shining the light on positivity, while delivering the facts. I have been with the Independent team for five months, but in the game for 15 years. I am a proud Grand Canyon University alumni. Born and raised in Peoria, I also am blessed to have a street named after me called Jennifer Rose Court.