Patricia Wilson was worried that the pandemic would hit hard right from the start.
Her concerns were warranted, as she saw COVID-19 approach from her work on the front line.
The Thorold resident commutes daily to Hamilton, where she drives wheelchair-accessible transit for DARTS, helping travellers to and from nursing homes and hospitals for daily visits.
Without her, some residents would be cut off from services keeping them alive.
"Many people are going to and from dialysis for example. That doesn't stop just because of the pandemic. It is pretty tough, you feel so bad for them," Wilson says.
Working with many health-compromised clients and seniors prone to illness, she saw the need early for face masks, so she sharpened her scissor, plugged in her sewing machine and got to work.
"I think I have made over 40 of them! Why, do you need one?" said Wilson.
She has been bringing them to her work, handing them out to clients who haven't been able to get one, or simply can't afford to buy them.
Another batch has gone out to family and friends, with more on the way.
"You have to experiment and see what works. It is different for everybody. Some like elastics, some like the ones you tie behind the ears."
The key to her fit is a wire that runs through the mask, ensuring a better, close fit over the nose - a feature she picked up from her daughter, a personal support worker.
Patricia has enlisted her husband John in the production, who cuts the wires and helps with final assembly.
"It is a scary situation. I think this is going to be the new normal. Masks, gloves and people moving when someone sneezes. People are afraid of everything," Patricia Wilson says.
This is the first in a series of articles about essential workers in Thorold. Do you know someone who is doing important work amidst the pandemic? Email [email protected], and be sure to include details and contact information.
