Homer Glen Woman Makes Over 850 Masks

HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Glen resident Eileen Crement has made over 850 masks, providing masks for residents, medical facilities and to the village of Homer Glen.

Crement said she is a quilter by hobby, and makes pillows and quilts. Since she worked in healthcare for over 20 years, she started getting calls from people who knew she was a quilter, asking if she was making masks.

Crement decided to give mask-making a try, and went to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and saw some designs and began making square-pleated masks for anyone who needed one.

Village Clerk Christina Neitzke-Troike recognized Crement at a village board meeting earlier this month.

"Eileen has been a major asset to the village of Homer Glen," Neitzke-Troike said.

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Crement said she's made masks for nursing homes, medical facilities, hospitals, doctor's offices, and has even mailed some masks to a nurse in Georgia who needed some.

"I had all these fabrics that were someday going to be projects, so I used it for this," Crement said.

Crement said the village was also able to provide her with fabric and she was able to find elastic for the masks through Thimbles in Lockport.

"We're all given opportunities, sometimes we just have to answer them," Crement told Patch. "It's been very rewarding for me."

With 850 masks already made, Crement shows no signs of stopping and continues to provide masks for anyone in need.

"I wish that we weren't in the situation that we're in, but if we can give back to the community then we're all better for it," she said.