By Kathy Brown.
Betsy Shanahan Himmelman, of Killingworth, has been making masks and giving them to people who need them — more than 3,300 of them! “I’ve given them to the local heating and cooling company for their workers, several visiting nurse groups, a chiropractor, the animal hospital in Clinton, hundreds to Social Services in Clinton, and I’ve been keeping Killingworth Pharmacy stocked,” said Betsy.
Does she do it to make money? No. “I haven’t charged for them because I feel that this is my way of giving it forward,” she said. “When people ask, I’ll figure out a fun way to pay it forward rather than giving something to me.”
Because the rules in Connecticut still say that we must wear a mask in businesses, it is something we may have to deal with for weeks or possibly months. “My latest plan is to design comfortable fun masks for kids and workers who have to wear the masks all day long.”
She broke her elbow in November and still is dealing with nerve problems, but she said that it doesn’t hurt to use her sewing machine. Many people are grateful for that! “Making these masks and giving them away makes me very happy. It makes me feel like I’m helping somehow on this terrible problem we’re all dealing with,” said Betsy.
If anyone still needs a mask, Betsy wanted to make sure you could contact her at Betsysbeads@gmail.com.
——————
And as a follow-up to our previous article on another mask maker, Annette Cook has now made over 3,500 masks. Annette is also working with Kathy Roelofsen to make 1,600 masks by request for families of CT National Guard members who will deploy in January. If you have any patriotic fabric that you’re willing to donate, please contact Annette at Annette88@comcast.net, and 860-227-2712.
