Greendale Student Makes Masks For School Staff

GREENDALE, WI — When Greendale Middle School eighth grader Genevieve Skibicki heard there was a shortage of masks at her aunt's work, she put her sewing skills to use. Now, employees at her aunt's work and her school will have masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus.

Skibicki told Patch her mom asked if she would like to make some masks after hearing of a shortage. "Since I had supplies, a sewing machine and knew how to sew I decided to give it a try," she said.

"At first I thought this would be a fast job, but soon I realized I would have to work hours a day to finish them all in time," she said.

Regardless, she recently finished her 40th mask.

"One thing Greendale Middle School helps us learn are our PRIDE attributes — Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, and Empathy — and helping make masks for my aunt’s work and for people at school, I think, reflects all of them. During the pandemic we need them more than ever," she said.

Here's the template Skibicki is using to make the masks.

Many of the masks will go to her school's food service and child care workers.

"It makes me happy to be helping in any way I can. Even though I can not be there at hospitals or other medical facilities it makes me happy that I can help from home and provide people with what they need to be healthy and safe," Skibicki told Patch.