From prom dresses to face masks, seamstresses at Give Me A Chance making a difference

Friday, May. 08, 2020

OGDEN — Seamstresses at Give Me A Chance’s De Marillac Formal Attire dress shop have been assisting the community while continuing to help provide a living for their families. Because the pandemic shutdown has temporarily suspended the shop’s operations and the need for fine gowns, for the past month or so the five women have turned their efforts to making reusable fabric face masks. So far, they’ve completed more than 1,800 masks.

The five women include the store’s seamstresses as well as members of GMAC’s sewing classes. Putting them to work on the masks was the idea of store manager Susanne Thompson.

“We took this on during the pandemic to be able to help out,” Thompson said. “It’s been a wonderful, wonderful time with the ladies. It has encouraged them to sew and to have a good outlook on what’s going on right now.”

Because they are operating under reduced hours, the work does not completely offset their families’ lost income, but it helps, Thompson said.

“I think during this time it has been really hard and emotional for a lot of people,” she said. “We haven’t seen the bottom of this; there are people out there who do need work and I just feel grateful to be able to help them.”

As they sew, the women, whose work stations are more than 6 feet apart, wear face masks. They also wash their hands thoroughly before working and after they leave their stations. 

The masks have mostly been made from the store’s stock of fabric, but donations have also come in. More is needed, Thompson said, adding that the store would be happy to accept donations of cotton fabric.

The women recently completed a large order for Coleman Knitting Mills and have been working on others for Darren Bideux RV, Midtown Community Center and two other companies who need the masks for their employees.

Give Me A Chance Executive Director Sister Martha Garcia, D.C., praised the women’s efforts.

“It has been a tremendous help to hundreds of people that they’ve made their donations to,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful, lifesaving experience for them because they know it’s going to go to people who absolutely need them. It’s very positive, very good, very giving during this time.”

The seamstresses offer both fitted and pleated masks with elastic ear pieces. They are happy to take orders for masks from those needing them, including groups, families and individuals, Thompson said. The masks may be picked up at the store, or shipping can be arranged. De Marillac is asking for a $5 donation per mask, which will help ensure the seamstresses will continue to be able to feed their families. Call the store at 801-393-0100 for information.

De Marillac Formal Attire is a non-profit retail boutique in Ogden that sells prom, wedding, quinceañera and other dresses. It is a program of Give Me A Chance, a Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul ministry that serves low-income women and children.