“Our name says Relief Society, and this is an opportunity where we can live up to that name and give relief,” said Sister Sharon Eubank of the Relief Society general presidency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Members of the women’s organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are sewing masks for frontline health care workers and families in their communities during the global outbreak.
“I hope that they know how much they’re loved and cared for by our community and how much we appreciate them kind of being on the front lines of what’s going on,” said Eden Mathews, a local Relief Society president in West Jordan, Utah.
Mathews rallied 25 members of the Relief Society in her congregation to sew 1,200 medical-grade masks. The effort is part of Project Protect, which was launched in mid-April in Utah. The goal is to make 5 million masks in five weeks for health care employees.
Project Protect is one of more than 110 projects in 57 countries to receive approval by the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“We have the Relief Society as a sponsor of some of these projects, and we have mobilized the Relief Society and their families to help with some of these projects,” said Sister Eubank, who is also president of Latter-day Saint Charities.
Relief Society General President Jean B. Bingham participated in a governor’s news conference in Utah as Project Protect was launched, in partnership with Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health.
“Any masks not needed here will be donated to other hospital systems around the country,” said Sister Bingham.
Waving homemade signs, Sister Bingham and other Church leaders showed up at drop off locations in northern Utah to offer encouragement to the volunteers who finished their masks.
“Hours and hours and hours of these dear sisters and dear brethren and neighbors and community have helped so we’re just here to say, ‘thank you,’ and to cheer them on and to just express gratitude,” said Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president.
“It’s just love and service in action,” expressed Sister Michelle D. Craig of the Young Women general presidency. “I think this is just really a healing process that’s going on right now as people have found something that they can do.”
“It’s a wonderful way to serve and serving makes you happy,” said Sister Becky Craven of the Young Women general presidency.
“We try to follow the Savior’s example and just put our heads together and our hearts together and our hands together,” expressed Sister Reyna I. Aburto of the Relief Society general presidency. “Miracles can happen, and this is a miracle. It’s a miracle of love for people just having that desire to help their neighbor because that’s what the Savior did and that’s what we’re trying to do.”