Elizabeth Doolittle, a member of the Fort Lewis Chapter, uses her sewing machine to make a mask.
Shawn Nowlin shawn.nowlin@ourvalley.org
Face masks and coverings are some of the best options available to combat the spread of coronavirus, and for months the Fort Lewis Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Salem Chapter has been preparing for such a moment.
The local DAR chapter recently lent a helping hand to healthcare and other essential workers on the front lines by donating more than 1,300 masks to individuals in need. Chapter members worked diligently to ensure that Salem’s residents and facilities have more protective wear resources to deal with the threat of COVID-19. Each donated mask is hand sewn, washable and reusable.
Masks were also given to local fire departments, childcare facilities, the Salem Veterans Hospital, Boys and Girls Clubs, Hotel Roanoke, doctor’s offices, the Navajo Nation, EMS squads, senior living complexes, area churches and postal workers in addition to family and friends.
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More than 1,300 masks have been donated to various organizations and businesses throughout the community, courtesy of the Fort Lewis DAR Salem Chapter.
While we are each doing our part to slow the spread of the virus by staying at home, the DAR members in our chapter wanted to do more to give back to those working hard to keep our community healthy and safe,” said Cynthia “Ricki” McKinney, Regent of the Fort Lewis Chapter. “We know these are tough times for everyone and wanted to do whatever we could to spread a little sunshine and help take care of our community.”
Now that summer is in full swing and more people are spending time outside, McKinney is encouraging everyone to practice social distancing guidelines more than ever.
Many national companies such as Wal-Mart and Kroger now require all customers to wear face coverings and maintain at least six feet of distance amongst each other. More than 78,000 COVID-19 cases in Virginia have been confirmed, including over 2,000 deaths.
Nationwide, DAR chapters from all 50 states have participated in the organization’s Service to America from Home initiative. To date, over 540,000 masks and 42,000 other PPE items have already been donated with tens of thousands more being produced weekly to be distributed in local communities.
“I am exceptionally proud of what DAR members are accomplishing as part of a longstanding tradition of service that dates to our 1890 founding,” said DAR President General Denise Doring. “In difficult times like these, we know that it is not the emergency that defines us, but how we respond to it.”
For DAR membership inquiries and other questions about the Fort Lewis Chapter, visit https://www.fortlewisdar.org/. To learn more about DAR, visit www.dar.org.
