The Good Life - May 2020

May 2020

ONE TANK TRIP Shreveport Offers World of Fun With Cajun Flare

page 10

One Good Thing: Love Shown

page 4 Gardening Brings Joy to Families in Time of Pandemic

page 8

Masking up to Save Others: Locals Construct Masks to Help Protect Citizens, Healthcare Workers

page 13

A SUPPLEMENT OF

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| THE GOOD LIFE

ON THE COVER TABLE OF CONTENTS May 2020

One Good Thing: Love Shown to Businesses in All Kinds of Ways ���������������������������������������������������������������

4 Gardening Brings Joy to Families in Time of Pandemic �������������������������� 8 One Tank Trip: Shreveport Offers World of Fun With Cajun Flare ������������������������������

10

Masking Up To Save Others: Locals Construct Masks to Help Protect Citizens, Healthcare Workers ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������

13

Publisher Jerry Pye

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER Shreveport offers tons of opportunities for fun including the Aquarium, Sci-port Discovery Center and Gators and friends.

Editor Wyndi Veigel

Advertising Sales Brenna Barnett • Johnnie Fancher

Writers Christina Lane • Jessica Harker Wyndi Veigel • Robin Y. Richardson Bridget Ortigo

Graphic Designer Melodi King

207 West Merritt St | Marshall, TX 75670 Office: 903.938.3793 | fax: 903.938.4722

May 2020 | 3

MarshallNewsMessenger.com

Letter from the Editor

L

iving in the Twilight Zone is a common feeling these days as the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed everyone’s way of life. The Good Life magazine, typically a senior living publication, has recently transitioned into being a publication for families. Published quarterly, the magazine will feature a one-tank trip story as well as some fun things and events to do with family and friends.

Enter the virus. I’ll spare you the details of deadlines and story shifts that have taken place but suffice to say the final version has been changed about four times. It’s difficult to write about events when, well there are no events to write about and it’s more socially responsible to just stay home.

We still wanted to bring everyone some uplifting stories and talk about a few of the good things in life right now.

We are featuring a One Tank Trip story about all the awesome things to do over in Shreveport, once things return to a little bit more normal. There’s the boardwalk, the aquarium and Sci-port, all things to look forward to hopefully this summer. Being new to the area, the aquarium is definitely on my list of things to do. See page 10 for more details.

As spring has sprung and we are moving towards summer, gardening is proving to be not only a welcome respite out of the house, but also a way to grow your own produce and make some memories with families and friends. Sarah Palmer and her family have turned to gardening as a way to grow their own food in raised beds and Suzanne Carter showcases her love of flowers with gardening.

Throughout the pandemic, locals and businesses have been there to support each other. Whether by chalk drawings, hunts for bears or utilizing area restaurants to provide food for front line workers, the community has pulled together. I enjoyed going back and looking at all the good things our business community has been involved in. I invite you to look at ‘One Good Thing: Love shown to businesses in all kinds of ways,” on page 4`.

Businesses aren’t the only ones that are being shown support.

As the virus has complicated life, masks have become part of the every day norm. Far and wide individuals and groups have been busy as bees sewing masks to help front line works and just gener-

al members of the population by offering some measure of protection. Their efforts are appreciated. Read their stories on page 13.

As life has moved along in the pandemic, it has become increasingly important to me to remember this time period. I simply don’t want to forget. I’ve done this a couple of ways, one with a personal photo essay I’m working on and the other is all the good things I’ve seen. It’s easy to let the darkness take over when you’re isolated, but the good things are there, you just have to look for them.

Here are some of the things I’ve seen and we have covered quite a few of them in our newspapers: anonymous chalk drawings supporting local businesses, community members putting out teddy bears and Easter eggs for kids to count, curbside library book check outs, drive-thru Easter bunny visits for kids, pages dedicated in newspaper for kids to color, drive-up birthday parties, drive-by visits to nursing home patients, tic-tac-toe on nursing home windows with elderly patients and hungry hungry hippo, meals donated to first responders and health care workers, families spending time together outdoors flying kites and riding bicycles and beautiful spring flowers that people are taking the time to enjoy.

Here’s looking to a hopefully bright future with a little less virus-speak for the next publication of The Good Life.

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One Good Thing: Love Shown to Businesses in All Kinds of Ways

By Robin Y. Richardson, Jessica Harker and Wyndi Veigel News Messenger Journalists

that much of us.”

T

Each saying was personalized and showcased a theme for the businesses. For example, Pietro’s stated ‘We love Pietro’s’ and featured some pizza and wine glasses.

hroughout the pandemic, local businesses have had it rough. Closings, furloughs, restrictions ... you name it, they have dealt with it over the past two months. But in Marshall businesses have been shown all kinds of love and have also done their part to show the community they appreciate their support in return.

In March, a secret supporter, or group of supporters (we aren’t entirely sure), made sure that businesses knew they were loved by some really elaborate chalk art drawings.

Many locally owned businesses arrived to their stores, prepared to take on a new day only to be welcomed by chalk art on their sidewalks.

No one seems 100 percent certain and though the newspaper staff tried to uncover who the artist was (we have a pretty good idea who may be behind it), one overwhelming feeling was brought to the surface: gratitude.

“It brightens your whole day,” East Texas Office Supplies business owner Stella Alexander said. “It’s terrific that someone thinks



Businesses that were “attacked” with kindness include both Sullivan and Meadowbrook Funeral Homes, East Texas Office Supplies, the downtown Main Street Office, Central Perks, Pietro’s, Joe Pine’s Coffee Co., Cajun Tex and The Marshall News Messenger office.

At Joe Pine’s Coffee Co. small coffee mugs were drawn on the sidewalk. The newspaper received an ‘extra extra read all about it.’

Going on a bear hunt, and finding Easter eggs In late March, Marshall businesses provided provided some entertainment for the kiddos by hosting a citywide scavenger hunt.

Students along with their families traversed through Marshall at a safe distance, many from their cars, to spot teddy bears during the hunt. The bears had completely taken over the downtown area ... stopping for a bite to eat at the Blue Frog, galavanting though downtown stores and even stopping to catch up on the latest news at The Marshall News Messenger office.

continued on page 7

NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO The Marshall News Messenger staff received appreciation in the form of its very own surprise chalk art thank you. We wish to tell the people responsible thank you for thinking of us and spreading positivity in the community during a difficult time.

May 2020 | 5

MarshallNewsMessenger.com

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NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO Employees at the Cajun Tex Restaurant arrive to a chalk art drawing thanking them for staying open. The art says ‘Thank You Cajun Tex for letting the good times roll in tough times.’

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NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO Randy Cox with Catfish Express is on the scene as the food truck along with Mega Bites teamed up with State Representative Chris Paddie to serve free meals to local first responders and healthcare workers as a token of appreciation for serving throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic.

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NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO Bears invade The Marshall News Messenger office as the staff participated in the Great Bear Hunt for students in Marshall.

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The idea was brought to life by Marshall ISD’s Jessica Scott who had seen other towns doing similar things to entertain students and took the bear by the fur so to speak to bring it into Marshall.

“Our owners, Robbie and Tracy Shoults, are members of that church and they were asked because the church really wanted to work to help feed the staff there,” Rogers said.

Blissmoor Valley Ranch and the Weisman jumped on board so their bears could be counted too honestly because it’s fun, Billie Bradbury of Blissmoor Valley Ranch said.

Food truck fun

According to Bradbury, her boys and their grandma found 29 bears on their hunting expedition.

State Representative Chris Paddie even got into the swing of giving back as he teamed up with local food trucks to provide free meals to those who continue to serve on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Smith family, including Addie, Ashley and Eddie, were hard at work on during the hunt finding all the bears they could. The family had found 123 bears and big sister, Addie, 9, was marking them down as they traveled the Marshall roads.

Catfish Express and Mega Bites offered the free food to the first 100 healthcare workers and first responders, who stopped by the food trailers at the Grand Plaza Shopping Center, located at 1203 E. Grand Ave.

Feeding those who are on the front line

“I’m super excited to be able to help any way that I can right now; especially for the first responders, giving back when they’re putting their lives on the line,” said Chris Bisset with Mega Bites.

As time progressed with the pandemic feeding those on the front line became extremely important to local businesses. Not only did they use the opportunity not only to show their support for first responders, healthcare workers and essential employees, but also to give a boost by utilizing local eateries.

In mid-April, Bear Creek Smoke House made two special deliveries to Christus Good Shepherd in Marshall delivering catered meals to the hospital staff.

Fidelity Communication’s in Marshall paid for the meals, with Bear Creek preparing and delivering them to 120 hospital staff members.

Traci Rogers Event and Catering Coordinator for Bear Creek Smokehouse, said that Alpine Church of Christ also placed a catering order with the store for 190 meals for the staff at Longview Regional Hospital.

“It’s a struggle to come out every day, not knowing if the next customer is going to be someone carrying the virus, and these people are doing the exact same thing,” said Bisset.

“For us to be able to help those who are helping others, that’s an honor to be able to do that,” he said.

Randy Cox, of Catfish Express, concurred. As a former first responder, Cox said he immediately jumped on the opportunity to be able to offer the free service Saturday.

“I used to be a first responder. That’s why I jumped on it so fast, to help them out,” said Cox. “We’re always looking to help out first responders.”

“We really appreciate everyone’s support during this time, supporting small businesses and we’re glad that we’re able to continue going to be able to serve the community as well,” said Bisset.

The special guests were able to order anything up to $10 from Mega Bites, which included a choice of three burgers or two burgers and fries or a platter of loaded fries and burger.

Catfish Express offered catfish and chicken fried steak dinners. Cox said the group was very appreciative of the token of thanks.

“We really appreciate Representative Paddie doing this for the first responders,” said Cox. “We appreciate all he does for our community.”

Rep. Paddie said he was pleased to provide a hot meal for law enforcement, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and so many more who are working diligently to keep all safe and healthy through these difficult times.



NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO Chris Bisset with Mega Bites is ready to serve as the food truck along with Catfish Express teamed up with State Representative Chris Paddie to serve free meals to local first responders and healthcare workers as a token of appreciation for serving throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“While this is just a small token of our community’s appreciation, it is one way that we can say thank you for all that you do for us day in and day out,” said Paddie.

May 2020 | 7

MarshallNewsMessenger.com

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NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO Bears greet patrons at the Blue Frog after getting some lunch at the eatery during the Great Bear Hunt.

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NEWS MESSENGER FILE PHOTO Addie Smith, 9, travels through Marshall hunting for bears driven by her mom Sara Smith. Her sister’s Ashley and Ellie also helped spot bears on the scavenger hunt.

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER  Mike Whyte, sales representative and Traci Rogers Event and Catering Coordinator for Bear Creek Smokehouse stand in the center of staff as they drop off meals to health care workers in Marshall.

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| THE GOOD LIFE

Gardening Brings Joy to Families in Time of Pandemic

By Christina Lane, Contributing Writer

W

hen their world turned into one of social distancing among fears about the new coronavirus, Sarah Palmer and her family looked for a project they could work on at their home in Marshall.

The Palmers turned to gardening and began to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in raised beds at their home.

“We’ve been having a lot of fun,” Palmer said. “This has brought us so much joy in a trying time.”

The Palmers are among a multitude of families across the country who developed a green thumb amid the pandemic. Many families have found a sense of community in the hobby.

For Suzanne Carter, gardening has been a way to connect with her grandchildren while also practicing social distancing.

“I have six grandchildren, and when I realized I wasn’t going to get to see them, I sent them all flower seeds. I told them, ‘Plant your seeds,’” she said. “We’ve been doing that and keeping in touch through gardening. It’s fun for them to have an activity where they can see the fruits of their labor.”

Palmer echoed the same sentiments about her children, Elizabeth, a senior at Marshall High School; Sam, a sopho-

 Zinnias are shown in Suzanne Carter’s garden.

more at MHS; and Sarah Jane, an eighth grader at Marshall Junior High.

“I have three hard workers,” she said of her children. “They have really enjoyed checking on the plants, being responsible for watering and those kinds of things.”

Their garden contains broccoli, lettuce, carrots, squash, zucchini, tomato, cantaloupe, watermelon and strawberries.

“My husband and son were our building team. They found old lumber in the barn and built three great raised beds. We also found some tubs used for cows years ago and we planted tomatoes in them,” she said. “We got creative with what we have.”

Though new to the hobby, Palmer said it’s something she could see her family continuing to do for years to come.

Carter, meanwhile, is a life-long gardener who has found even more joy in her garden during this time.

“I grew up on a farm – an agriculture farm. The love of the land is ingrained in who I am,” Carter said.

She and her husband have a vegetable garden that they maintain every year, and they have begun to incorporate flowers, such as zinnias, cosmos and sunflowers.

“The love of gardening has been in my blood for generations,” she said. “My mother and grandmother were both gardeners. I

continued on page 5

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER

May 2020 | 9

MarshallNewsMessenger.com have a yellow Dutch iris that has been in my family for more than 100 years. It gives me a real sense of pride to be able to maintain that flower.”

The Carters sell items, including the vegetables and bouquets of the flowers, at the farmers market in Marshall. She enjoys seeing people at the market and their responses to the flowers.

“The zinnia, for example, is an older flower. It’s something that your grandmother and your mother would have grown up with,” she said. “For many people, it brings back memories and fond experiences with those flowers. I often have people who will say my grandmother grew these or my mother grew these.”

Carter is looking forward to Market on the Square opening May 30 in downtown Marshall, and says she intends to continue gardening for years to come.

“For me, it’s very therapeutic to work with soil,” she said. “You plant seeds and you get excited as they comeup and bloom. For me, it’s also about the sharing of the flowers and the bounty of your harvest.”

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SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER Madison Woodley, granddaughter of Suzanne Carter, attends the farmers market in Marshall.

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One Tank Trip: Shreveport Offers World of Fun With Cajun Flare

By Christina Lane, Contributing Writer Editor’s note: The following feature was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check times, dates and openings before venturing out to any museums, businesses or attractions.

T

ucked in the northwestern corner of Louisiana, Shreveport offers a mixture of southern and Cajun flare where families can visit for intrigue, underwater fun, animal adventures, sporting events and more.

“Shreveport-Bossier is such a great destination for multigenerational fun,” said Stacy Brown, president of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. “Families can take advantage of a full day of activities or an exciting weekend getaway. There’s food, experiences and events offered year-round that caters to the interests of everyone.”

As the Texas-Louisiana border reopens and as cases of the new coronavirus decline, those looking to make a day trip can find family fun in Shreveport.

Sci-Port Discovery Center, the Shreveport Aquarium, Gators and Friends Adventure Park and Splash Kingdom Waterpark offer opportunities for the whole family to come together for fun, Brown said. Additionally, some festivals like the upcoming Red River Balloon Rally have made modifications to their plans, but will contin-

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Gators and friends offers all kinds of fun ziplining and other activities.

ue in some capacity, out of an abundance of caution amid the new coronavirus pandemic.

Attractions Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 92,000-square-foot space in Shreveport that offers interactive science exhibits for children, a planetarium and an IMAX dome theater. The children’s museum has been closed this spring, but tentatively plans to reopen May 15.

When it reopens, attendees will be able to visit the nation’s first Gallery of Intrigue at the museum. This gallery will feature “Adventures of Intrigue,” which is comprised of eight STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) based activities, and “The Power of Three,” a 1,000-square-foot interactive mural.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for Sci-Port Discovery Center’s members, guests and the community,” Nicole Ginsburg, founder of Museum of Intrigue, said in a media statement. “The Gallery of Intrigue model seeks to marry education and gaming in a non-intrusive, functional way using existing institutional spaces, such as exhibits, play zones and public areas.”

Sci-Port, located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12 per person. For more information, visit sci-port.org.

Splash Kingdom Waterpark and the Shreveport Aquarium both offer water-based fun.

continued on page 12

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER

May 2020 | 11

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Splash Kingdom, located at 7670 W. 70th St., opens June 6 for the season, which runs through September. The water park features thrill slides, a wave pool, lazy river, children’s area and more.

younger and free for children 2 and younger. The museum is located at 601 Clyde Fant Parkway in downtown Shreveport. For information, visit www.shreveportaquarium.com.

“Every summer, families look forward to all the water fun they have to offer,” Brown said.

Meanwhile, Gators and Friends also offers families an opportunity to get up close and personal with animal friends. Gators and Friends features more than 150 alligators, an exotic animal petting zoo, pony rides, a zipline and go-karts. Brown described it as “an all-in-one fun experience.”

The water park has free tubes and life vests available for visitors.

For more information, visit www.splashkingdomwaterpark.com.

The Shreveport Aquarium is home to more than 3,000 creatures, ranging from seahorses to sharks.

“This is an underwater world of wonder,” Brown said. “You can touch jellyfish and starfish, walk through tunnels of aquariums, and get up close and personal with sharks.”

The aquarium has been temporarily closed due to COVID-19 with no reopening date scheduled yet. Tickets are $13 for adults and children 13 and older. Tickets are $10 for children 12 and

Gators and Friends is located at 11441 U.S. 80 in Greenwood between Marshall and Shreveport. Like the other attractions, it is also temporarily closed. The summer season is tentatively scheduled May 25 through Aug. 5, according to the Gators and Friends website. For more information, visit gatorsandfriends.com.

Festivals and Sports The fifth annual Red River Balloon Rally is converting its popular summer festival into a picturesque overflight for the community to enjoy from their homes or their cars. The event is scheduled June 12-13, weather-permitting, in Shreveport-Bossier.

“I remember reintroducing the Balloon Rally five years ago, and the community was overjoyed with the balloons coloring the sky. Although COVID-19 hijacked many of our spring and summer plans, our team and sponsors thought it would be best to offer our community a cheery sense of ‘feel good,’” said Kelly Wells, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.

“This overflight will give us all an opportunity to look into the sky and see brighter days ahead as we plan for 2021.”

Winds are the deciding factor in whether balloon pilots will take off from various locations and soar across downtown Shreveport and central Bossier City. However, the Balloon Rally plans to launch balloons at the following dates and times: 6 p.m. June 12, 7 a.m. June 13 and 6 p.m. June 13.

For more details about the Red River Balloon Rally, visit redriverballoonrally.com.

Shreveport’s hockey team, the Mudbugs, had their 2019-2020 season suspended this spring amid COVID-19 concerns. However, the hockey team is preparing for its 2020-2021 season. While the season schedule has not been released yet, it typically begins in September.

The Shreveport Mudbugs hockey team is a part of the National American Hockey League. The new Mudbugs first took to the ice in 2016, after replacing a former professional team that played in the area from 1997-2011.

Mudbugs hockey games annually attract hundreds of spectators from Louisiana and Texas. According to the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, the Mudbugs were awarded the National American Hockey League’s Organization of the Year and placed second in the league for attendance in 2016-2017.

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SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER The Sci-port Discovery Center offers many hands-on activities.

For more information about the Shreveport Mudbugs, visit mudbugshockey.com.

May 2020 | 13

MarshallNewsMessenger.com

Masking Up To Save Others: Locals Construct Masks to Help Protect Citizens, Healthcare Workers

By Bridget Oritigo and Jessica Harker News Messenger journalists

E

ast Texans have been banding together in myriad ways to help keep each other safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and one of those ways is by making homemade face masks for workers to wear as they go about providing needed services to the community.

Waskom resident Della Alford said two Waskom quilting groups, Waskom Quilt Guild and the Faith Sewing Group joined forces in April to make 120 handmade face masks for East Texas Burger King workers.

East Texas Baptist University’s Mask Ministry also got into the swing of things with about two dozen volunteers cutting cloths and filter fabrics, making ties and sewing together face masks to make more than 1,000 masks that were sent to ETBU graduates who are fighting the coronavirus pandemic on the frontlines. Some

of the masks also went to ETBU staff and faculty when they return to on-campus work.

“A lot of us group members go down to the Burger King here in Waskom a lot so we are friends with the workers and managers there,” Alford said. “They reached out and asked us if we could make them 120 masks so we went and bought the fabric in Burger King’s colors, orange, green and beige and we sewed together double layered face masks.”

The fabric and craft stores were all out of elastics to keep the masks on the workers’ heads so the quilters used ingenuity to make the masks stay secure.

“We couldn’t find any elastics anywhere so we used headbands,” Alford said.

By making handmade masks for the workers, ETBU and the Waskom quilting groups are saving precious PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) that could be sent to frontline nurses and doctors, Alford said.

continued on page 14

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“The ETBU Marketing and Communication Department, under the leadership of Becky Davis contacted ETBU alumni healthcare professionals to ask what their needs were as they work to identify and treat COVID-19 patients,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said on Saturday. “Hundreds of ETBU Tigers are requesting any type of personal protection equipment, from N95 masks, cloth masks, gloves, shields, and gowns as their supplies are critically low. Some ETBU nursing graduates reported they are down to only one or two N95 masks that they must attempt to clean and reuse.”

Blackburn said care packages were prepared for those healthcare workers.

Marshall native and mother of two Jordan Moore spent almost a month bent over her sewing machine, making hundreds of masks for community members in need that she has been giving away for free.

Moore said that the first night that she started sewing, she worked throughout the whole day and night and completed over 100 masks. Since then, she makes 10 to 30 masks a night, and places them outside for people to pick up as they are needed.

She said she has also done bulk orders for specific groups in need, including Longview Regional. Moore said that though she has lost count on how many masks she has made total, she knows that a number of the masks have ended up with nurses in the local hospital ER room, Devita in Henderson, local nursing homes and many more.

There are times that I get overwhelmed but I just think about all of the people that have to be out there every day and it makes me feel like I have a way to help.

It’s my way of giving back and using my time and my skill to do something good.

- Jordan Moore

Moore said that the project started March 23 when she saw a number of requests online for people who know how to sew to start making masks, because supply was quickly running out.

“I saw them all over the place, but it was mostly just reposts on Facebook. I didn’t think much of it until a friend of mine that is a nurse messaged me, because she knows I can sew, and asked me to make her a mask,” Moore said.

Her friend told her in March that she was given one mask to wear per week, and that they had to keep them in a plastic bag in between shifts. That was when Moore started making masks.



She said that she spends the majority of her days sewing; only taking breaks for cooking and taking care of her children.

Moore said that she was even contacted by a nurse working in Oklahoma, a company in Austin and someone living in Glenrose.

“It’s not just nurses, though a lot of the people who contact me are nurses or work in health care. I also have people picking them up because they need them to go to Walmart or they work in a restaurant or a bunch of other things,” Moore said.

She said that her masks are free to anyone who wants or needs them, and that they are welcome to take as many as they need.

Moore said she uses social media, posting about once a day to let people know how many masks she’s making and when she will place them on her porch. She said she wakes up to 25 to 30 messages every morning in her inbox of people asking her for a mask.

continued on page 15

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER Waskom women in the Waskom Quilt Guild and the Faith Sewing Group have teamed up to make 120 homemade face masks for Burger King workers.

May 2020 | 15

MarshallNewsMessenger.com She said that in each mask that she makes she adds a space for a filter to be added to the mask is someone were to choose to do so. Moore said this also allows nurses to use the cloth masks as extra protection with the masks they already use. Especially since Moore said her masks are machine washable.

Initially working her way through her scrap fabric, and headbands Moore said she had her husband purchase instead of being able to get elastic, she has now received a large amount of donations to assist her in continuing to make masks.

Moore said that people have sent fabric, money, headbands and rubber bands (which are good substitutes for elastic) to her house.

“It’s a little bit weird to wake up to money in my door or Amazon packages of supplies and I don’t know who any of this is from,” Moore said. “It’s not just people who can sew, and it’s not just me.

Everyone is stepping up and helping out.”

She said that she didn’t feel like she was doing anything special or interesting, but instead was simply doing her part for the men and women out there every day helping to fight the virus.

“There are times that I get overwhelmed but I just think about all of the people that have to be out there every day and it makes me feel like I have a way to help. It’s my way of giving back and using my time and my skill to do something good,” Moore said.

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SPECIAL TO THE NEWS MESSENGER Marshall native Jordan Moore has a pile of masks on her kitchen table that she is preparing to put in bags and prepare for pick up by community members.

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As community bankers, we acknowledge our responsibility to invest in the communities we serve with our time, talents, and financial resources so that Texas remains a vibrant place for families and businesses to grow and prosper.

Our call to serve has never been greater. __________________________

903-927-2040 | 715 East End Blvd South | Marshall www.texasbankandtrust.com

ANGIE HUMPHRIES

BRENDA BROWN

NMLS #1203404

NMLS #458228

Administrative Officer

President, Marshall

MEMBER FDIC