In Carroll and Montgomery counties, local people step in to help others in times of tragedy or crisis. Whether it is kindness passed through a plate of food, the activation of prayer chains, time volunteered, or funds raised for those in need, this community stands together in times of disaster, uncertainty, and need.
With the coronavirus pandemic shuttering Mississippi’s schools, churches, and many businesses, the healthcare sector is as busy as ever, however, shortages of essential supplies like surgical masks and gowns nationwide have put local healthcare workers in an even greater risk of contacting the virus. However, locals are stepping in to lend a hand to those manning the frontline of the pandemic.
Dr. Mary Catherine Hoover, a dentist in Winona, and her mother, Susan Hoover, began crafting facemasks for those in the healthcare industry. Using extra fabric and HEPA vacuum bags, the Hoovers have made close to 100 masks and distributed them to those in the healthcare industry in Montgomery County.
“We have been giving them to people in the healthcare field,” Dr. Hoover said. “Mom and I pray over all the cloth masks before we give them out.”
Hoover said they have given them to pharmacy employees, those at the local clinics, and those at Tyler Holmes Memorial Hospital. They even made masks and a surgical cap for a local nurse who is traveling to New York City, area hit hardest by coronavirus in the United States, to work.
“We aren’t selling them to the public,” Dr. Hoover said. “They are only for healthcare, pharmacy, nursing homes, and the Kilmichael Group Home.”
As a dentist, Dr. Hoover said she is currently seeing patients on an emergency basis, so her need for surgical gloves and gowns is not as dire as those in other areas of healthcare. So she decided to reach out to her medical supplier and order surgical masks and gowns to donate to Tyler Holmes and its two clinics. Her friends asked if they could help her financially.
“People wanted to help so they helped financially in paying for surgical masks,” Dr. Hoover said. “I also have 300 isolation gowns going to the hospital, PPEs or personal protection equipment.”
Dr. Hoover said this project is a group project. Those in her tennis group donated money to order the masks, and when the boxes were delivered, the names of those who donated were written on the boxes.
“I had access to order [the PPEs], but a lot of people helped pay for it,” Dr. Hoover said. “I didn’t do this on my own.”
Dr. Hoover was able to order more than 1,000 surgical masks and 300 gowns, but she said supplies are limited with the pandemic.
“I ordered 50 boxes and got 15,” she said. “When they come available to me, I will order for the hospital and clinics.”
Dr. Hoover said she and her mother wanted to help local healthcare workers because with the current crisis, they needed access to the essentials needed to care for those in the local community.
Gina Roberson, the wife of Dr. Gary Roberson, pastor of Carrollton Baptist Church, said she has also been making masks for many people in the areas. Roberson said she’d made some for the Vaiden Community Living Center, Winona Discount Drugs, and anyone at their church who wants one.
“I love to sew,” she said. “It still gives me something to do during this time.”
Debbie Bordelon said she was watching television and saw there was a shortage of masks. After getting the pattern to do one and elastic, she began sewing masks. Bordelon said she’s not on Facebook, so she asked her neighbor, Judy Gillespie, to post the masks on her page, and the response was overwhelming as well.
“My husband asked me, ‘Are you going to sell them?’ And I said no. I just felt like it was the humanitarian thing to do. I’ve been in unfortunate situations, and people have stepped up to help me, and I wanted to do something to help others,” Bordelon said. “He asked if I was going to take donations for them, and I told them no. I don’t want someone to see that I’m taking donations and feel they can’t afford them and not get one. I wanted it to be no strings attached.”
She said the masks are welcomed to anyone who wants one. “I’m not from here, and I don’t know a lot of people. Judy tells me who needs one, and she’ll deliver them for me.”
Bordelon said she’s thankful that she’s able to do this. “It always feels good to be able to give back,” she said.
Roberson said she makes about 60 or more masks a day – in between homeschooling her children and using another love of hers to help uplift people’s spirits during this time – playing the piano.
“I’ve been playing the piano since I was a little girl. I started playing in church when I was 13, and I’m a preacher’s wife, so I’ve played in just about every church we’ve been to,” she said.
Roberson said playing the piano is her time to worship and commune with God.
“One day I was playing, and I thought – well, the Lord put it on my heart – to put a song up on Facebook. I thought it uplifts me, it might uplift someone else. The response was overwhelming,” she said. “People commented, ‘Oh, this uplifted me. Can you do one every day?’ I didn’t know about every day, I didn’t want people to get tired of me. But, I do put one up two to three times a week.”
She said her posts have gotten up to 1,000 views.
Roberson said before she wakes her children up for school and does all the other things she has to do, she takes a little time to play and have alone time.
“It wakes them up, but they’re used to it now,” she said.
She said if she could offer a word of advice to help people keep their spirits up, it’s to take it one day at a time. “That’s my favorite hymn, ‘One day at a time.’ You have to ask the Lord for grace to get through this day. Don’t worry about tomorrow, there will be grace for tomorrow when it gets here,” she said.
Sisters Rachel Watkins and Lexie Flowers wanted to lift the community’s spirit, too. Watkins, a teacher, and Flowers, a counselor at the Kilmichael Group Home, said they thought about how people have been affected mentally by the coronavirus.
“We wanted to let people know they were not along,” Flowers said. “God is with them every day.”
The ladies decided to make signs featuring Bible verses to encourage others and thank those serving on the frontline like healthcare workers, law enforcement, and firefighters.
“We wanted them to know we were thinking of them and share words of encouragement because it is easy to get down in this situation,” Flowers said. “We looked up verses about fear and peace and fear and anxiety. I know I find comfort when I know a verse is addressing one specific thing.”
They began to make signs.
“It started with a few, and then we couldn’t stop,” Watkins said. “We placed them around town – doctor’s offices, nursing homes, first responders, pharmacies. We wanted to let them know that we are thankful for all they are doing.”
Flowers agreed, “They really don’t have a choice. The ones on the frontline, they don’t have a choice. They can’t stay home. And people that go [to the hospital and the clinics] need courage as well.”
