In these days of social distancing and mandatory masking, it’s not just medical professionals that were finding it difficult to secure the appropriate masks. Many in Rio Vista began asking, “where do I get a mask quickly so I can go out when I need to?” Fortunately, a local resident took on the challenge of creating masks and began giving them out free to the public.
Connie Abendschein, a Trilogy resident, has a long history of delivering the goods for those in need. While living in Las Vegas, Connie was involved with a group called Sewing Ministries. They began by using pillowcases to create girls’ dresses which were then sent to needy families in Third World countries. Connie’s group branched out to doing backpacks and other goods for export, plus creating duffel bags for homeless youth in Las Vegas.
When she moved to Rio Vista two years ago, she brought along tubs of fabric and sewing supplies from the ministry. She was using her sewing skills to make doll clothes for her granddaughter when she began to realize there was a growing need. “Regular people needed masks,” she said, so she starting searching for patterns, found some that were straightforward and easy to make, and went to work.
She then placed a notice on NextDoor for her neighbors to get her masks for free. She began displaying them in her garage, inviting people to come and pick up what they needed at no cost. Pretty soon, the response grew into a torrent, and she needed help and supplies. Volunteers began showing up with various skills.
“We didn’t need just sewing skills,” Connie said. “There were tasks like cutting, ironing and pinning before the sewing began.” Among those who joined “Connie’s Angels,” as they were dubbed, were Lee Muller, Pauline Rockett, Jeanne Crawford, Zinda May, Ann Thomas, Doris Noriega, Mary Beth Leonard, Michelle Yazel, Kathy Hale, Carolyn Ulrich and Hande Gurel. In addition, Karen Bomagart, Debbie Johnson, and Janet Dalen made their own masks to contribute to the effort.
As far as supplies, Connie felt those were given from God’s hand. Whenever she seemed to be running low or put out the word that she needed something, the supplies would start showing up on her doorstep. She began posting messages on a board by her front door so the giving was more organized, and it stayed consistent. The only material she needed to look for was appropriate fabric for male masks, since her original supplies came from efforts to make dresses for girls.
People also asked about paying her for her work, to which she would reply that she didn’t require any. She suggested they do donations to a charity, and then began recommending the Rio Vista Food Pantry. Going the next step, she put out a Donations Jar, which constantly filled up so that she was able to write a check to the Food Pantry for $2,400. And she knows of many people who directly donated to this essential service on her behalf. “I know of one person who turned his entire stimulus check over to them,” she said.
She also said that she received a lot of gifts from people who wanted to compensate her generosity in some way, including a tri tip roast, toilet paper, bottles of wine and other items. “You’re just giving these away?” asked one man. “You just don’t meet people like you often.” She said is overwhelmed by the sense of gratitude displayed by those who received the masks. Now, 1,500 masks later, she is still at work. She has made 10 masks for medical personnel, gave 45 masks to the school district, and provided countless others for Food Pantry clients as well as her neighbors and anyone who asks or walks by her home in Trilogy. She stresses that the masks are for the entire Rio Vista community, not just Trilogy. For those still needing masks, she has created a special email account, rvmasks@gmail.com, where they can go to make a request and she will do her best to fulfill it.
Before launching into this compassionate effort, Connie and her husband were headed for a vacation in Puerto Vallarta. That of course was eliminated by the travel restrictions, and she again felt it was the hand of God intervening. “This has been an absolute joy and a blessing,” she said, and it would not have happened if she had been sunning on a beach.
So many people in Rio Vista are thankful for that too.
