Red, black, and white face masks, sewn with love, arrived at Jane Adeny Memorial School in late September after a journey of 9,000 miles.

Earlier this summer, a group of JAMS supporters in DeKalb County, Illinois, donated their time, talent, and treasure to help protect JAMS students, teachers, and staff when the school can reopen. Rob Stoll organized the group and Diane Hance, Joanne Hackerson, and Sue Goudy joined him to sew 400 masks, enough for JAMS students, teachers, and staff to have two each.

For several months travel from the U.S. to Kenya was restricted. Finally, however, travel opened up and a volunteer was able to bring a suitcase to Nairobi, filled with the masks as well as extra thread and elastic to make repairs. A few weeks later, the supplies made the journey onward to JAMS.

Included in the shipment to JAMS were fabric, patterns, and instructions so that students can learn to make masks on the JAMS sewing machines—an excellent vocational skill for our students to possess.

Diane Hance said “Masks, to me, are a sign of caring for ourselves, caring for others . . . our friends, family & community, caring for our nation and world. We are all in this together. It was an honor to sew for JAMS, spreading that love out into the world. I look forward to seeing a picture of the girls with their masks when school starts.” We look forward to that, too, Diane!

Many thanks, asante sana, Rob, Diane, Joanne, and Sue! Your care for the students and others at JAMS is heartwarming.

Find out more about the JAMS face masks project HERE.

Find out more about how JAMS is supporting students during the pandemic HERE.