NEWS RELEASE
CROWN AND BIRCH
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CROWN AND BIRCH
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Céline Wood, the owner of Crown and Birch, a local furniture and home decor store, had to temporarily close the doors of her business four weeks ago. Since then she and her team have redirected their attention to help with the increasing need of personal protective equipment (PPE) for Thunder Bay healthcare professionals.
Over the last couple of weeks, they have recruited close to 100 volunteers to cut material to size, sew masks and distribute masks to staff and patients at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Hospital, NorWest Community Health Centers, Hogarth Riverview Manor, Pioneer Ridge and Jasper Place, The Walford, PR Cook, and to patients undergoing cancer treatment. They have donated close to 500 masks and are anticipating that number to grow significantly in the coming days and weeks.
A local physiotherapist reached out asking for some masks for his practice and patients. He makes home visits to patients throughout Thunder Bay District and after receiving masks he said, “The masks are excellent. Please share my thanks and appreciation with the volunteers. I have given a mask to the wife of one of my clients with ALS, as he would be high risk.”
There are so many people in our community who are at high risk for contracting this virus – whether they are front line workers, the elderly or those who have underlying health issues. Wood says “It has been truly overwhelming to see and hear the responses from those who are getting the masks that our volunteers have so graciously made.”
As you can imagine, the logistics to organize this project has required careful planning and execution to get drivers to safely deliver completed masks, as well as to deliver material to cutters and sewers. Many hands make light work!
Wood is currently funding this project herself, with the exception of some donations from community members, and to date close to $10,000 has been spent on fabric and other mask making supplies. Wood and her team continue to receive requests from Long Term Care homes, detention centers, homecare and healthcare workers to consider donating masks for their vulnerable staff and residents/patients.
Wood is currently funding this project herself, with the exception of some donations from community members, and to date close to $10,000 has been spent on fabric and other mask making supplies. Wood and her team continue to receive requests from Long Term Care homes, detention centers, homecare and healthcare workers to consider donating masks for their vulnerable staff and residents/patients.
Donations to this community initiative are being graciously accepted via e-transfer (info@crownandbirch.com) or by cheque to Crown and Birch (re: mask making initiative).
