Heetderks Inspires School Community to Support Front Line Workers

lementary School Art teacher Anne Heetderks is always on the go. She is a constant whirlwind of activity either in E the classroom encouraging her students to be the best artists they can be or finding a new project to help others that most would be intimidated to tackle. So, it came as no surprise when in the midst of transitioning to teaching online in March (no easy task) Anne found a way to do both and provide desperately needed face coverings to health care workers.

With fabric in hand, a design, and her personal sewing machine, Anne got to work. She sewed all hours of the day and night. Soon her husband, Doug Heetderks, Westminster’s WorldWonder teacher, and daughter Elise, a Westminster ‘19 alum and FSU sophomore, joined her by pleating the masks, adding elastic bands, and more. A small assembly line was born. As other employees and Westminster families heard about what she was doing, the assembly line grew, each taking a portion of the task.

Anne not only sewed, she also researched, organized and inspired an army of volunteers. She broke down the task of producing a mask into six easy steps so that interested volunteers who did not know how to sew could also make a difference. She created video tutorials and shared them on her YouTube account to support volunteers and to provide a resource for others in the community interested in sewing masks.

MASK RECIPIENTS

AMAZING VOLUNTEERS

Heetderks’ youngest daughter Elise ’19 joined the assembly line to help her mom with this project. made and delivered more than 1,000

In God’s perfect timing, Anne had also just taught her elementary students basic sewing skills. Students had learned to thread a real needle and to perform simple tasks like sew a button. When the pandemic required the campus to close, she had sent them home with felt fabric and a sewing kit so they could practice.

So as Anne tackled the task of sewing masks for healthcare workers, her students undercompassion of our teachers and families.

stood and were watching. They would join her on Microsoft Teams as she sewed and assembled, and began sewing their own creations eager to share this experience with their teacher.

“Students loved learning how to sew!” said Anne. “To see how a skill could be instantly useful was so empowering to them, and they wanted to get involved.” While the cotton masks were hugely

Students as young as preschoolers served as volunteers, and in some cases entire families joined to support the cause. Some were busy at sewing machines while others eries to the next person in the production line. Some volunteers even learned how to sew just to be able to lend a hand.

They made both lined and unlined face coverings, allowing them to be used alone or as an additional cover over a medical grade mask. Doctors, nurses and other health care workers who are part of the Westminster community were the first recipients, and helped Anne and her team deliver the masks into the hands of those who needed them most. They ranged from private pediatrician offices and nursing homes to nurses and doctors who worked at local hospitals such as Baptist, Kendall Regional and Jackson Memorial. The team cotton masks.

“This is an outstanding example of Westminster’s core values of excellence and innovation,” said Scott Jones, Westminster’s head of school. “It is also evidence of the great creativity and We are grateful for Anne’s leadership in this effort and for the involvement of many of our team members.”

served as couriers making contactless delivpopular, some hospitals and medical professionals needed medical grade masks that were uniform and could be easily sanitized.

From the Hew family at Westminster, Anne learned about masks designed by an anesthesiologist at the University of Florida that were made from medical fabric that is normally discarded after being used to wrap sanitized surgical instruments. By adopting this doctor’s patented design, Anne was able to cut and assemble 200 masks from just nine pieces of this medical fabric. That was just the beginning. Doctors began dropping off fabric at Anne’s home so she could make them the masks they so desperately needed. As quickly as they dropped off the material, they would return to pick up the newly made masks. She also created new videos on YouTube to show others how to work with this new design and extend the reach of their mask making skills.

“Thanks to school families in the medical industry, the news spread,” said Anne. “We were able to work together to make another 1,200 masks for those who were in desperate need of PPE.”

The community rallied around Anne to make this project possible. As the project and the network of volunteers grew, so did the need for financing the materials and supplies. While Anne had covered all costs to that point, a GoFundMe page was established by her daughter Annika, a Westminster ‘17 alum and FSU senior, to help offset the expenses and to provide for future funding. They raised approximately $3,500 and were able to purchase supplies and a second sewing machine to help boost their productivity.

Months later, Anne is still producing masks for anyone who needs one. The effects of her selfless act has had ripple effects throughout the student community as well. Students have organized mask-making operations themselves and learned that they can make a difference. The interest in sewing in general has peaked and there is even discussion among students of starting a sewing club.

“I am constantly in awe of the combination of gifts and talents that God gives each of us,” said Anne. “It was so cool to see how God was able to bring a beautiful mix of people together with just the right skills to make a real difference for others!”

To view Anne’s video tutorials, please visit YouTube and search “Anne Heetderks.” Be sure to also check out her amazing student artwork and educational videos from her classroom.

MEDICAL MASKS

STUDENTS LEARN TO SEW