Here’s giving thanks and kudos to the men in the Youth Offender Program (Y.O.P.) in “B” Yard at Avenal State Prison, CA for their genuine willingness to learn and apply their new found sewing skills to make hundreds…thousands of face masks to donate to first responders, prison staff and other inmates.
As per my previous PATH blog, I was approached by Lorraine Lopez (Correctional Business Manager I) and Mike Tuntakit (Public Information Officer) both at Avenal State Prison, asking if it was possible for me (under the auspices of PATH) to purchase and ship the men fabrics for such purposes as they had run out, and yet, the need was still quite urgent.
I immediately took the request seriously and got right on the ball placing an order with both JoAnn’s Fabric store in Corte Madera, as well as with various Ebay vendors who were selling cool vintage cottons. I did my best to select textile patterns (colors and designs) that I thought the men would have fun working with (i.e., motorcycles, bears, dogs, vintage cars, wildlife, hummingbirds, etc.).
Kudos to the men at Avenal for working hard to learn to sew and make hundreds/thousands of face masks. I have to hand it to them because the only thing I can sew is a button on a shirt. And, my mother was a professional fashion designer and seamstress. Ha! Ha!
Can you imagine my delight when I received the beautiful handmade rose and butterfly card (see pics) the men collectively wrote on and sent me. The lady bug and one of the butterflies is in bas relief. So pretty!
Blessings,
Leslie Lakes, Dir.
Photo Credits: Mike Tuntakit