Local seamstresses go the extra mile for healthcare providers

A group of local seamstresses and benefactors is working to make sure Cairo doctors’ offices have enough protective equipment to protect them from the novel coronavirus by converting plastic tablecloths into one-use medical gowns. So far, local volunteers have produced 85 gowns, according to Nola Daughtry, coordinator of the plastic gown project.

It takes rectangular shaped plastic table cloths that are 54” x 108” to make the gowns. A staff of volunteers in the community is cutting the patterns and/or sewing the gowns, which are then dropped off at Wellness Life Center in Cairo for distribution to community physicians. The gowns are quarantined for three days before they can be safely used, Daughtry says.

“None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the donations and all the volunteers of seamstresses and cutters,” says Daughtry.

Donors to the project include: Miss Myrts, United National Bank, The Cairo Messenger, Wal-Mart, Woodmen or the World/WoodmenLife, Teresa VanLandingham, Ellen and Jerry Cox, Mandy Knight, Diana Rineer, Michelle Usury and Holley Stokely.

Seamstresses and cutters are: Whitney Brown, Amy Carter, Glenda Coffee, Diane Connell, Ellen Cox, Karen Cromartie, Phyllis Gainous, Shelly Gayle, Leslie Cunningham Goodby, Sammi Hester and children, Becky Hopkins, Sheli Ladner, Helen MacKinney, Jane Martin, Fran McCaskill, Kristal Middlebrook, Cheryl Mills, Cathy Moore, Sonya Ruff, Sonja Simmons, Bonnie Smith, Staffie Thomaston, Sadie Volyes, Babs Walden and Sharon Shattles Worley.

Daughtry says since posting the project on Facebook, she has received pattern requests from people as far away as Ohio, Indiana and Maryland.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the project may send monetary donations to Grady County Family Connections, PO Box 449 Cairo, GA 39828. Those who have tablecloths or velcro to donate may contact Daughtry at 229-378-7272.