While the gifting season has yet to begin in Aiken County, two local organizations – the Boy Scouts of America’s Scout Troop 7G out of North Augusta and MasksNow SC – are already giving in the spirit of the season. The two organizations joined together with other community volunteers recently to donate 460 masks to support the students of Aiken County Public Schools.
North Augusta’s Scout Troop 7G gathered and donated the fabric to MasksNow SC specifically to make masks for Aiken County Public Schools’ students.
“We appreciate the kindness these two groups and other volunteers have expressed toward our students through this donation of protective masks,” commented Aiken County Superintendent King Laurence. “We are grateful our schools have been provided with these masks and we appreciate all the hard work that went into this donation.”
The South Carolina division of MasksNow was created in March by Sara Mohr. Stephanie Threlkeld, a local mother and former band director at Schofield Middle School, took over the lead position in May. In addition to sewing, the lead organizes volunteers, requests, and deliveries.
Fifteen sewists in South Carolina donated their time and supplies over seven months. MasksNow SC has donated 7,126 masks across the state to various medical facilities and nonprofit organizations.
Stephanie and her son, Elliott Threlkeld, currently a fifth-grader, sewed together 2,490 masks in total, with 2,139 being donated to MasksNow SC and other organizations.
Students of Aiken County Public Schools received the final donation of 460 masks – 220 for middle/high schools, 240 for elementary schools – or around 10 masks for each school. Assisting Stephanie and Elliott in the sewing of the ACPSD masks were Mead Hall Teacher Valorie Vance Kraus and USC Aiken Student Melida Barron.
MasksNow coalition information may be found online at https://masksnow.org/.
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2020 PR MASK DONATION