Loretta Cummings, 96-years-old, worked as a ship welder during World War II. She now lives in Central Oregon with her daughter, Jean, and together they have become part of a group called the ‘Central Oregon Emergency Mask Makers’ formed by community members who sought to address the nationwide shortage of PPE.
Once again, Loretta has come to her country’s aid, but this time from the comfort of her own home. The face masks they make are delivered to local hospitals for healthcare professionals. From sunup until sundown, she sits at her kitchen table assembling masks using cotton fabric they’ve had laying around the house for years.
Jean migrates between the kitchen and her designated sewing room which has also become a storage unit for baby diapers that they’ve stocked up on for grandchildren. She fears that her mother may spend the rest of her life in quarantine but expressed her gratitude that they are able to weather this storm with each other’s company.