THUNDER BAY — Her admirers say Felicia Urbanski has gone above and beyond to help community members stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Thunder Bay woman – known for her sewing expertise – has made hundreds of face masks for the regional hospital, the public and her church, while asking for nothing in return.
After sewing 100 face masks for the hospital, she made dozens more and hung them in protective bags from a tree outside her home, where passers-by could retrieve them.
Urbanski then turned her attention to her church, St. Agnes, on Brown Street.
She offered free masks to other members of the parish, many of whom responded by leaving cotton material, elastic or money in her mailbox.
Within weeks, all parishioners who needed face masks had them.
However, as a news release from the parish states, Urbanski was not sewing for financial gain, but rather "out of concern for the health and safety of her church friends."
Accordingly, she gathered up the $800 she had received and presented it to the church on behalf of her fellow parishioners.
The money will go toward the cost of replacing the church roof.
Urbanski told Tbnewswatch she had no idea she would end up making so many masks when she began sewing them at the end of March.
The count is now up to 600.
"Sometimes my hands get sore," she said, "so I have to take a break."
Believing that it's important to contribute to the community, she said she expects to continue making face masks into the autumn at least.
