Cheryl Brewer, Retired nurse and handmade mask community support project leader.
“As a former nurse myself, I know what it feels like to be on the front line with
inadequate supplies, staff, etc. I know the direct impact of helping specific individuals. Although mask making can occasionally feel tedious, I remain motivated knowing the impact community projects can have on local populations.”
Cheryl is a retired nurse who has worked to help people in the Eugene community throughout her career. She became involved with the PPE project early on after learning from her former colleagues in the ONA (Oregon Nurses Association) that there was an equipment shortage at the hospital where she had worked. As someone who worked in the healthcare field and has experienced firsthand the challenges of this career, she was inspired to take action to protect her fellow nurses and community members.
Although her original inspiration was protecting healthcare workers, she is also very passionate about helping those in our society who are most vulnerable. Cheryl started out by making 20 masks with materials she had on hand, however, her connections in the community allowed her to quickly scale up her efforts. As part of the Willamette Valley quilters guild, an organization that already had ties to community support initiatives like the Eugene Mission, C.A.S.A., and Bags of Love, she learned that there was a vast need for PPE in the community outside the healthcare world. After receiving requests from several community partners, the quilters guild started producing hundreds of masks for groups that help the homeless, undocumented immigrants, and people with mental health issues.
With Cheryl’s assistance, masks from this project have reached people in need as far away as San Diego and Texas. Although she has played a key role in the development of this project, she wants to acknowledge the importance and tireless efforts of her partners, some of whom (like Leila Moore) have individually produced over 700 masks! When she is not working hard to help the community Cheryl enjoys cooking, learning new recipes, and using her sewing skills to make garments and quilts.
