"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,
Let me now go to the field,
and glean ears of corn after him
On whose sight I shall find grace.
And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."
Ruth 2:2 KJV
'Q' is for Quarantine . . . OK, maybe not Quaker, but it is something that we are all living with at the moment. Whether or not we are in a hospital quarantine, mandatory quarantine or in-home self quarantine.Friends around the world are reaching out in all sorts of ways - sharing how they, their family, their Meeting are spending their time and how they have changed their way of worshiping.
F/friends taking care of each other - calling, video chatting, standing outside the windows of care facilities and talking with loved ones over the phone while looking through the window.
F/friends making and distributing homemade face masks to those in need - family, F/friends, healthcare providers, first responders . . . whoever is in need.
I work for JoAnn Fabrics - and while we were closed to customers from April 8th through May 3rd of 2020, many of us continued to show up for work - filling BOPUS (Buy Online Pick Up in Store) orders, delivering to customers via curbside pickup, receiving deliveries, and stocking shelves. We were considered an "essential service" - providing the raw materials (cotton fabrics, interfacing, thread and elastic) and kits with the previously mentioned items (as available) with instructions and a pattern to make the homemade face masks - along with the raw materials that so many home crafters need to make their products to sell and bring in much needed income for their families.
I'm amazed at how generous JoAnn's has been with all donations and concern/care not only for our customers but also for their team members. When I looked at the website and as of April 4, 2020 - company wide they had donated enough materials to make 5,000,000 face masks! In addition to that they figured that customers have purchased enough materials to make an additional 20,000,000 face masks! Customer donations to date (those that they are aware of) is 33,213,645 face masks. Along with this they partnered with Neiman Marcus Group to make thousands of scrubs and masks.
Over the last eleven months I personally made over 200 face masks and and about 50 scrub caps. Most of the face masks scrub caps went to staff at the local hospital's ER, a few scrub caps to my daughter-in-law, face masks also went to my children (including my new daughter-in-law and soon to be son-in-law) and granddaughters, along with friends and their family members.
Getting back to Friends, the need to stay connected as a faith body is strong, the need to be doing what we can to help those around us in need during this time is also great. Friends are always so good at doing what I call 'quiet service' - that is doing what needs to be done quietly and without the need for a think you. That being said, during this global pandemic Friends around the world have gotten creative! Learning how to worship safely and at a distance, sometimes thousands of miles separating those worshiping. We've learned how to use online platforms including email, ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, to conduct business and worship.
Stay safe my F/friends . . . and do what you can to make someone else's day a bit brighter.
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'Q' is for Quarantine . . . and as here in the United States we are supposed to wear a face mask while out and about, if one must be, or while working . . . here's the pattern from JoAnn Fabrics that I've been using.
SUPPLIES & TOOLS:
