Sheila Green is a member at Sheridan who is heavily involved in the local quilting community. She is involved in the Lincoln Modern Quilt Guild, Lincoln Quilters Guild, and the Nebraska State Quilt Guild, and she teaches children’s and adult quilting classes. In addition, she gives tours at the International Quilt Museum.

In March, Sheila’s neighbor had a request for 250 masks for a local organization. Sheila was able to use her various quilting guild connections to help fill this order. From there, demand for masks for local organizations skyrocketed. Thus, the Lincoln Covid Sewists was founded.

There are 126 volunteers (including 101 mask makers) in the Lincoln Covid Sewists. In addition to making masks, they have made hospital gowns, surgical scrub caps, and surgical shoe covers. No monetary compensation is provided for the masks or labor involved; the volunteers just want to help others. People have kindly donated supplies like bed sheets, bandanas, and
elastic. Though the Sewists have run low on supplies, they somehow never run out. Sheila even likened it to the feeding of the five thousand.

“With prayer and people, you can
accomplish almost anything,”

Sheila prepares kits with fabric, elastic, and other supplies for mask makers to pick up at her home. In total, she has put together 4,500+ kits and made 1,000 masks herself. She was recently awarded with Great Western Bank’s “Great Gifts of Gratitude” award.

The Lincoln Covid Sewists have made 14,452 masks and donated to 45 different organizations, from hospitals to social services. They receive orders for hundreds of masks at a time, which can be very overwhelming. Sheila says that she could not coordinate this project by herself. “With prayer and people, you can accomplish almost anything,” she says.

Sheila is one of the many members of Sheridan who have served the community during the pandemic. We are thankful for everyone who has loved deeply, grown spiritually, and shared abundantly through their various acts of service. For updates on the Lincoln Covid Sewists, visit
facebook.com/lincoln.quilters.guild.