Churches Helping to Stop the Spread of Covid-19
Many local churches have joined the fight against Covid-19. Some – with prayer vigils and fasting, others – with food drives and donation collections to feed the children and help those who lost their income due to the outbreak.
Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church Sew and Sow ministry members teamed up with some volunteers from the community to do their part in fighting Covid-19. So far, this team has made and distributed more than 1,500 face masks! The masks have been delivered to hospitals in Brookhaven, Natchez, Greenwood, Vicksburg and Bogalusa, Louisiana. More than twenty ladies have been involved in sewing these masks. Others have cut fabric and wire. Many have assembled kits. Generous donations of fabric and funds have been made. Others have run errands across town to transport kits and finished masks, while some have traveled across our state and beyond to deliver masks to hospitals in need.
Some people, who aren’t members of First Presbyterian Church, stepped in to help as well. Such as one of the postal service workers, who saw a box of sewing kits on the porch of one of the ladies from church. The postal worker took a few bags of pre-assembled kits and returned the finished masks to the same porch when she was done.
Debbie Dempsey, one of the team leaders, shared, “While we are busy sewing at home, people are being blessed by the results of our efforts! It’s a blessing to me to see all the kits and masks coming and going from my front porch. But it’s not time to quit yet! We are getting more orders for cloth masks – particularly in nursing homes.”
This ministry has been much appreciated by the recipients all over the state. Here is one the many notes of gratitude the church received in the recent weeks: “I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the generous and greatly appreciated donation of masks from the ladies at your church. They have a special place in Heaven for their contributions and efforts to help others. May God bless each and every one of them and their families.” (From Holly Springs Healthcare System)
Debbie Dempsey wants to thank and encourage everyone, helping in this ministry:
“I am so thankful for all of you and the work you are doing. We are getting great feedback from the hospitals we have helped. Thanks to all you who are sewing, cutting fabric, yarn and wire, assembling kits and running all over the state. This is a successful ministry because you all have gone above and beyond the call of duty – by the grace of God. What a great way to keep busy during a quarantine! I personally had been wishing for some extended sewing time… I think I have gotten it!”
With growing needs for cotton face masks for personal use, the ladies of Sew and Sow would like to recommend this pattern and instructions for those who would like to make face masks for themselves, family, and friends.
If you want to pray for the ministry or read about their updates, you can check FPC website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram – @fpcjacksonwomen.
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
