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How Our Employees are Assisting Essential Workers During COVID-19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shortage of many things, including masks. With the guidelines on the use of masks changing frequently, masks have been in very high demand and out of stock online and in stores, making it difficult for anyone, including essential workers, to find.

Two of our Financing & Planning Analysis Managers, Erin Salamone and Barbara Dodge, stepped up to make masks to help keep our front-line workers, and those around them, safe and healthy.

Erin’s mother (pictured) is a retired Home Economics and Art Erins Momteacher in the Atlantic City Electric region who taught sewing and quilting to kids during her retirement.

Erin’s mother has been making cloth masks for local physical therapy locations, nursing homes, hospice facilities, and individual nurses and family members since New Jersey’s stay at home orders went into effect. Since then, she has made 60+ masks for these essential workers.

Inspired by her mother’s dedication to helping others, Erin pitched an idea to her team, encouraging a virtual volunteer mask making opportunity. “While I may or may not have inherited the gene for sewing from my mom, I was thrilled to hear this has garnered so much support and attention. In such uncertain times, it’s nice to feel that you have had even a small part in giving back.”

Erin and her husband“I’m really excited to see the enthusiasm of my team and others to support our local healthcare workers and to continue the selfless work started by my mom and so many others.  I always knew I worked with individuals that took pride in giving back to our community and this effort continues to show with a little idea and teamwork, a lot can happen,” says Erin.

Barbara Dodge is also making three different type of masks for workers at John Hopkins and AI DuPont Nemours Hospital for Children. She learned how to sew in 7th grade. The different type of patterns on the masks were shared by both hospitals.  She used leftover fabric as well as materials she has collected from her Girl Scout activities and sewing projects through the years.

“I’m on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts and one of our Board Members works for AI DuPont Hospital.  She reached out to the Girl Scouts and the board to create an activity since they need mask as a surge facility.  They were told that non-Covid-19 patients would be sent to their facility, but they would still need masks and social distancing,” said Barbara.

Mask

Aside from donating locally, Barbara is also sending masks to her daughter’s roommate in Boston who is a nurse at a children’s hospital.

Other employees from around the company, including Leslie MasksKennedy from Delmarva Power’s North East office, have been sewing masks for healthcare workers.  So far, Leslie has sewn over 30 masks for donation.

Thanks to Erin, Barbara, and many of our other employees who assist our local front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.