CCRI community comes together to design and donate masks to healthcare workers
March 31, 2020
With a husband who works as a nurse at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Enrollment
Services Representative Dawn Barlow fully understands the dangers of coronavirus and
the need to stop the spread of the global pandemic.
In addition to keeping her family safe, Barlow wanted to come up with a way that she,
too, could help out. With more than 160,000 cases in the United States, there has
been a recent shortage of medical supplies among healthcare professionals, including
surgical masks.
Through the power of social media, Barlow has enlisted the help of family, friends
and colleagues to craft and donate protective masks to staffers at The Miriam. Since
she launched the initiative two weeks ago, Barlow has collected more than 400 masks.
CCRI colleague and Chemistry Department Technical Staff Assistant Jocelyn Bluto has
made more than 25 of her own since connecting with Barlow on Facebook.
Barlow hopes to solicit more volunteers, even those who cannot sew; they can be useful
either by donating the material to make masks or going as far as pre-cutting the fabric
for those who actually put them together. The goal is to also spread this initiative
to more hospitals in Rhode Island.
“Something like this really shows our healthcare providers that we do care,” Barlow
said. “We could be their patients one day, so we want to take care of them and make
sure they go home safely to their own families.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit close to home for Barlow on a number of levels. In addition
to her husband’s responsibilities at Miriam, she has family in Italy, which has reported
more than 100,000 positive cases. So far, she says, her family is safe, but she also
acknowledges that no one is completely out of the woods yet. As the number of positive
cases increases in Rhode Island, her husband will eventually move from the Emergency
Room to the Intensive Care Unit at The Miriam.
“It is a little nerve-wracking,” she said, “and you go through moments where the fear
takes a stronger hold than you are comfortable with, but there is a lot of great information
out there and a lot of good medical professionals putting time into studying this.”
The philosophy behind the masks, Barlow said, is that “something is better than nothing.”
The masks aren’t specifically designed to be worn as the only means of protection,
but rather as a protective barrier in addition to a more traditional, disposable surgical
mask. The hand-crafted masks can be washed and sanitized, which Barlow hopes can prolong
the lifespan of the disposable masks, thereby assisting in some small way in reducing
the worldwide shortage.
“We’re making as many as we can,” Barlow said. “As far as what it all means, we really
don’t know yet. There are little bits of information here and there on how disposables
are being sterilized, and when this is all said and done, we’ll have a lot of new
information that can be used in the event of a future outbreak.”
Bluto, who has worked at the Knight Campus since 1994, had no previous sewing experience
until she began hand-making her masks earlier this month. She connected with Barlow
online – at the time, the two didn’t even realize they were colleagues at CCRI – and
wanted to offer her assistance in any way possible, so she began watching online tutorials
to learn how to sew. She had a decent supply of fabric at home from some previous
projects she had planned to work on and soon began making custom masks with a small
pocket in the back, which healthcare professionals can utilize by inserting a more
common disposable mask.
Bluto’s designs range from animal prints to seasonal designs. She said it takes her
25 minutes to make each mask, from cutting the fabric to the actual sewing.
“This is just a really cool project,” Bluto said. “For one, it allows me to do something
beneficial that can help others, plus I’ve had the chance to meet Dawn and now have
her as a new contact at CCRI, which is amazing. This will hopefully encourage others
to get involved and continue bringing people together. As a nation, I think we’re
all pulling together to figure this out.”
With her father having worked as a general practitioner for a number of years, Bluto
can relate to what Barlow is going through at home. Bluto remembers her father working
in the medical field during the AIDS outbreak in the early 1980s and sees similarities
between that and COVID-19 based on the fear and uncertainty when the viruses initially
surfaced.
“At the time, we really didn’t know a lot about AIDS,” Bluto recalled, “but people
were dying and it was on everyone’s mind, from not knowing where it came from, to
who it was attacking or who was going to be affected. It was a scary time. I think
one of the differences now is progress and awareness is coming along a lot faster
with coronavirus than it did with AIDS.”
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to grip the entire world, but Bluto and Barlow are
confident new information released daily will assist in limiting the spread of the
virus. They will also continue to do their part in making sure healthcare professionals
are safe as they put their lives at risk to treat those affected by this disease.
“I know the masks we’re providing so far is just a drop in the bucket, but it’s a
great start,” Barlow said. “There are things people can do to help, even if it’s just
donating the material to people who can sew. It’s thrilling to see such positive feedback.
CCRI is such a great community and I wouldn’t be surprised if more people jump on
board. We’re just figuring this out as we go along, but with a little bit of organization,
we can provide a lot of support to our healthcare community.”
If you would like to assist, please contact Dawn Barlow via email at [email protected].
Share this story
Latest News
CCRI, Partnership for Rhode Island join forces to launch innovative work-based learning program
June 27, 2024
The college is collaborating with the Partnership for Rhode Island to join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) Network, allowing students in communications and business programs to get hands-on experience working with statewide industry partners.
Read More
Class of 2022 alum's "hunger" for success helps launch a new wellness movement
June 26, 2024
East Providence, RI, native and Class of 2022 graduate Eddy Vieira is the brains behind brains behind Hunger Breeds Success and Success Loves Consistency, the motto of his recently-launched apparel brand and lifestyle movement that is making waves on social media.
Read More
Theater professor Clement premiers next installment of his semi-autobiographical trilogy
June 26, 2024
More than a year after launching his first original play, Theater professor and director Ted Clement is back with the second installment of his semi-autobiographical trilogy, The Other, written by Clement and directed by longtime colleague and CCRI alumnus David Valentin.
Read More
Employee Spotlight: Maya Geraldo
June 19, 2024
With a nomination from Interim President Rosemary Costigan, Maya was recently honored as one of Providence Business News’ 40 Under Forty for 2024, an annual awards program that recognizes young leaders based on their career success and involvement within their communities.
Read More
Spring 2024 Dean's List
June 03, 2024
Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.
Read More
CCRI among Rhode Island schools supported by Ørsted's proposed $5.5M Starboard Wind project
May 31, 2024
Rhode Island’s offshore wind leader Ørsted announced higher education grant commitments totaling $5.5 million as part of its proposed Starboard Wind project, including a proposed $2 million to the Community College of Rhode Island.
Read More
CCRI launches its first Cannabis Training Program to meet workforce demands in fast-growing industry
May 29, 2024
With jobs in the cannabis industry nearly doubling in Rhode Island between 2022 and 2023, the Community College of Rhode Island is launching its eight-week Cannabis Training Program through the Division of Workforce Partnerships.
Read More
Torsiello's 'beautiful life' leads her to the commencement stage as CCRI's 2024 student speaker
May 15, 2024
Meet Marissa Torsiello, a 30-year-old West Hartford, CT, native and Providence, RI, resident, who will deliver this year's address to the Class of 2024 following a near-decade long journey through healthcare providers and hospitals while battling a rare genetic disorder that left her unable to pursue her college education.
Read More
CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association elects two new members to its Board of Trustees
April 26, 2024
The CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association have elected Sergio Sousa, Regional Vice President of Marketing for Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel to the Alumni Association Assembly, and Rhode Island attorney, Rebecca E. Dupras, Esq., of Dupras Law, to the Board of Trustees.
Read More
CCRI Players close out the semester with production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
April 24, 2024
Written in 1967 by Clark Gesner, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a musical based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts – a perfect opportunity for the Players to end the year on a light-hearted note following a stretch of heavy, thought-provoking performances dating back to 2021.
Read More
Broadway tour members visit Providence Campus next week to discuss life on the road
April 17, 2024
Students interested in a career in performing arts will have a unique opportunity next week to learn about life on the road from two well-traveled industry experts, Jay Carey and Christopher DeAngelis from the Broadway musical Company, during a free Q&A session at CCRI’s Providence Campus Theatre on Wednesday, April 24 at 4 pm.
Read More
First cohort of trainees graduates CCRI's GWO-certified Basic Safety Training program
April 11, 2024
Thirty-nine local residents are the first to complete the Global Wind Organisation (GWO)-certified Basic Safety Training curriculum at the state’s only offshore wind safety training center and are prepared to continue building fulfilling careers in America’s fast-growing offshore wind sector.
Read More
Class of 2022 grad Tavares gains acceptance into prestigious Juilliard School to pursue acting
April 01, 2024
Less than a year after wrapping up a life-changing fellowship with The Gamm Theatre, 22-year-old Pawtucket, RI, native and Class of 2022 graduate Eddy Tavares is one of only a small percentage of applications who were accepted into Juilliard's four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Drama beginning in the Fall of 2024.
Read More
Unwilling to give up her dream, New Century Scholar Grace pursues a career in Archaeology
March 28, 2024
After an on-again, off-again journey to further her education, West Warwick, RI, native Kelly Grace earned the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's 2024 New Century Transfer Scholarship for the state of Rhode Island, awarding her $2,250 toward her pursuit of a career in Archaeology.
Read More
CCRI earns Military Friendly® School designation for the third year in a row
March 27, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island has been named a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, a data-driven military company that helps connect the military community to civilian employment.
Read More
Upcoming Events
Mar.
18
March 18, 2024 All Day
Flanagan Campus
May.
7
May 7, 2024 All Day
May.
20
May 20, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day
Jul.
1
July 1, 2024 All Day