KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, Jenni Clark wanted to protect her family. The Overland Park woman sewed cloth face masks for her husband and four daughters.
“I made them for my family and I thought, ‘That’s pretty easy. I can do this.’ And I thought, ‘I have some extra supplies. What do you think if I just put them in a bucket at the front door for our neighbors?'" Clark said. "And before I knew it, those were all gone."
Nine months later, the family is protecting many more people than just the six living in in one house. They’ve made nearly 2,000 masks and given them away from a Tupperware container on their front porch.
A couple of times each week, the family gathers around the dining room table. Each member of the family has an assigned task, creating a type of assembly line.
“Sometimes it’s hard to thread the needles because it has such a tiny hole,” said 7-year-old Emery, whose job is to thread the needles.
Clark admitted she tried to stop making masks. But each time she ran out of materials, someone would donate more.
“God’s got a plan for it and we’re listening,” she said, admiring the generosity of the community.
Along the way, Clark’s daughters have learned a few lessons, including how the masks are helping people who need them.
“So they don’t get sick,” Emery said.
The Clarks live near Flat Rock Creek Park. She said people interested in a mask can reach her via email at jenniclark05@gmail.com.
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