Mokena Company Creates Movement To Produce Masks For Hospitals

MOKENA, IL — A Mokena healthcare consulting firm has partnered with several other companies to help hospitals get healthcare workers masks. Lyndean Brick, President and CEO of Advis Inc. in Mokena, and Tony Dovolani, the Fred Astaire Dance Studios International Dance Director, have created the "Million Masks MOVEMENT" to help create masks for hospitals, according to a release.

The idea was born when Brick decided to take her two passions, healthcare and ballroom dancing, to create a solution to making masks, a release states. The organizations are employing ballroom gown seamstresses to make the masks.

The MOVEment was born when Brick took two of her passions, healthcare and ballroom dancing, and came up with a unique solution to making healthcare worker masks - employ ballroom gown seamstresses to make the masks.

“I’ve talked to many hospitals that are desperate for these masks,” Brick said in a release. “Then I thought about all these seamstresses that are not working because people currently don’t need gowns for competitions. I thought if we could combine forces, we could really make a difference.”

Ballroom dance competitions have been put on hold, and many seamstresses now need work, the release states. Brick decided to ask Fred Astaire Dance Studios, including Dovolani, and the dance industry’s ballroom dress makers, Dore Designs, Dance America and Creative Canopy, to partner with Advis and start this MOVEment.

According to a release, the goal is to manufacture and distribute high quality protective masks for healthcare workers. The masks produced by this program will help extend the life of N95 medical-grade masks.

“Our frontline workers need our help. The MOVEment is an opportunity to assist them and keep these seamstresses employed,” Dovolani said in a release. “But we need others' help, every donation counts and will help us achieve our million mask goal.”

A GoFundMe page has been created for others to donate and help the cause.

Rae Josephs, Area Director for Fred Astaire Dance Studio Illinois, said when Brick approached them with the idea they were eager to help.

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“Lyndean has a lot of contacts in healthcare and knew we could make a difference,” Josephs said in a release. “She asked if we could help take this nationwide and we jumped on the opportunity to help.”

Luann Pullman, President of Fred Astaire Dance Studios International, said it is very difficult to be closed and the dance community is looking for ways they can assist.

“We are excited to be a part of this,” Pullman said in a release. “It is important for everyone to do their part and we are thrilled to be helping to spearhead this effort.”

The masks are being produced by eight seamstresses at Dore Designs in Cape Coral, Florida, three seamstresses at Creative Canopy in San Francisco and three seamstresses at Dance America in Margate, Florida. The seamstresses are working six days a week to produce the masks and ship out dail, the release states.

“This is a time of national need and I have always wanted personally to be able to serve at a higher level,” said Dawn Smart, owner of Dore Designs. “This is an opportunity to do something for a lot of people beyond our dancers.”

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

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