RHS'69

...and out

Helping Where We Can

Sponsored by Roosevelt RHS'69 with alumni of Kalani'69 and McKinley'69

During WWII women were in the factories, ferrying airplanes and sometimes near the front lines.

Back home, those that could not serve found a way to do it anyway. Shortages were everywhere and food was rationed. Troops sometimes did without and the woman of America responded. They sewed items for the military at home. They knitted sweaters and socks and hats and mittens to help the soldiers stay warm in the winters of Europe.

There's some comparison to the coronavirus "war" of today. Although vastly different, the need for help is real and people today are responding.

The first 15 masks from JoAnn Oshima. More coming...

The mask shortage is hurting everyone and the 75-cent medical face mask is extremely hard to find and what little is available for hospitals to order can now cost $10 each...and higher.

Rhonda Nishimura, who  organized everyone, keeps cranking them out...

Lani Harrington has dogs...so the hospitals get doggie masks.

Individuals and groups are sewing masks for medical personnel. Often constructed simply of materials like cotton fabric and elastic, DIY face masks are all over the internet right now.

RHS'69 is trying to help and sew and deliver masks to several hospitals looking for donations.

These are not medical grade and do not block bacteria and viruses. But they can be used by some personnel in certain environments and they can also be worn over the valuable N95 masks to help keep them clean and last longer.

RHS, Kalani and Mckinley produced almost 500 masks in just a few days.

Every little bit helps.

And here are more.

If the elastic bothers your ears, try this with a headband and a button.

...and done.

Donna Miller, a former ER nurse, getting to work.

Going around and collecting finished masks

Caution

These masks do not filter bacteria and viruses. They can be worn over a N95 mask to help keep it clean or in areas where a medical facility deems appropriate.

...and out

Saturday,  April 4, 2020

...Done

Veda Shimizu delivering the  masks with her husband Craig

After parking our car, while walking to the designated meeting place, a nurse stopped us and asked if we were selling the masks. It must have looked cute on myself and Craig. Many thanks to all who put in time and sweat to sew these much needed masks!

We were met by Dayton Morinaga and Anne Salazar, Marketing and Public Relations staff and photographer; Donna Spiker, Manager, Marketing and Public Relations (she spoke to Rhonda); and Gary Kijiwara, President and CEO of Kuakini Hospital. What made it amazing is that Mr. Kajiwara is a '67 graduate from Roosevelt! They were so happy and appreciative of receiving the donations. I told them the project was spearheaded by the Roosevelt Class of '69 with other schools joining. When asked if we were from Roosevelt, we told them no, from McKinley, we are the messengers.

I was also a washer and packer so I was able to see the many different styles of masks that were made. I saw that EVERY ONE of them was made with love and care with the intention of blessing the hospitals. THANK YOU so much to those who took the time to sew much needed masks. Big or small your caring hearts made the hospitals very happy.

Kuakini Medical Center

Cheryl Osumi and I made the deliveries to Hawaii Pacific Health (HPH) for the 3 facilities (Kapiolani, Straub and Pali Momi Medical Centers).

 The Hospital staff member that’s in one of the pictures is Erica Gutierrez, Marketing Manager of HPH.

Sandy Nishimoto

Hawaii Pacific Health

Kaiser Honolulu

KHON2 Report

The lovely people in the picture and video are:

Kathy Reathel, President

Jesse Seibel, Director of Mission & Spiritual Care

Chris Imoto, MHS'69

Bobby Imoto, KHS'69

Adventist Health Castle (formally Castle Medical Ctr)

Delivering the goods!