Neighbor News
Crafters Sew 3 Masks in Memory of Leake Family
Salisbury, Maryland resident Dominique Sessa sews three masks in honor of Leslie, Nicky, and John Leake Jr. All died from coronavirus.
Washington, DC
The needle and thread from the Delmarva Covid-19 Crafters and Volunteers group on Maryland's Eastern Shore has touched the Leake Family in Washington, DC. Leslie, Nicky, and John Leake Jr all died from the corona virus in April and May within weeks of each other.
The family's story made national news, and Dominique Sessa, a founder of Delmarva Covid-19 Crafters and Volunteers group, saw the family's story on Facebook and felt compelled to act. "I thought of how they couldn't have the funeral or memorial that the family deserved. However, I could potentially offer something that could offer solace, just like with mask making." Dominique reached out to Victoria Gaither, through Facebook, a news broadcaster and family member, and asked what colors would best represent the family. "Blue for Leslie, orange for Nicky, and Brown for John Jr.," says Sessa. A note attached to the masks read, "may these special three masks keep you safe, heal, and wrap you in love, as well as protects you." The face masks are going to Shanta Cherry-Leake, the daughter of Leslie Leake and sister to Nicky and John Jr.
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When reached for comment, Shanta said, "This gesture touches me. It's small but big in our eyes, and my family is thankful to this group." She plans to keep the masks as a memorial for her family members. However, Dominique will duplicate the three Leake Family masks and donate to a family or group in their honor.
The group has made 750 masks, 25 scrub caps, and 45 ear savers. Volunteers sewed masks for Peninsula Regional Hospital, Atlantic General Hospital, Beebe Hospital, Berlin Police Department, and member Penny Bowles Sperry made a heart warrior mask for a three-year-old girl who just had a heart transplant at John Hopkins.
Find out what's happening in Washington DCwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
While member and long time seamstress, Sue Bromm, has sewn one thousand masks, that have gone to Puerto Rico, the Navajo Nation, and Haiti residents on the Eastern Shore working at poultry farms. Sue says, "I've been in training for this all my life. Instead of watching television about the corona virus, why not do something."
To look at their Facebook page, making masks is a labor of love for the entire group. Shanta says, "these ladies are amazing."
The group takes donations, usually has a table at the Berlin Farmer's Market, and has over three hundred members on Facebook. To learn more and make a donation, find them on Facebook under Delmarva COVID-19 Crafters & Volunteers.
