Twin Sisters Run Venture With A Big Heart: Ashburn Heroes

ASHBURN, VA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. Together with Ring, we're working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from a community member, who nominated twin sisters Sophia and Amelie Clarke of Ashburn who wanted to give back when the coronavirus crisis hit in March.

Name: Sophia and Amelie Clarke

State: Virginia

Hometown: Ashburn

Hero's job: Business

Relationship to nominee: Community member

Reason for recognition: Hopes and Seams was founded by 17-year-old twin sisters Sophia and Amelie Clarke who are members of the class of 2021 at Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn. Sophia and Amelie started with donating cotton non-medical masks to front-line workers and those most vulnerable in our community and turned the effort into a small business selling masks to be able to continue their community work.

In March, Sophia and Amelie saw a need when COVID-19 hit and wanted to give back and selflessly jumped in to help and dedicated their time and effort for the last five months to do what they could to help flatten the curve by donating protective masks to front-line workers and vulnerable individuals. The high school students have proactively responded to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have provided thousands of masks to various organizations, including Mobile Hope Loudoun, the Inova Children’s Hospital, the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Loudoun County Public School teachers and students, Food for Neighbors, and local Chick-Fil-A restaurants. With great awareness and compassion, Hopes & Seams has donated thousands of masks to populations that are particularly vulnerable to the threat of COVID-19, including the local elderly community and the Navajo Nation.

One thing to know: Hopes and Seams is a small teenage-run community venture with a big heart. Every mask you buy means Sophia and Amelie can continue to buy supplies to keep on giving back. By supporting Hopes and Seams, you are helping two budding entrepreneurs do what they love and help those in need.

Thank you for all you do, Sophia and Amelie!

Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here. Read about other heroes from across Virginia here.

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.

Let us know about those making a difference by filling out the form below and we'll be happy to share their impact with the rest of the community.

Contributions big and small are important and valued.