April 23, 2020 3:50 a.m.
A local winery is having orange masks sewn to help with the COVID-19 situation.
A release from Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards said the idea began when employee Marla Smart, and her husband Jerry, who works part-time at Prayer Rock asked local seamstress Tamie Mansanti to make masks for themselves.
The release said Mansanti had already been sewing masks for friends and immunocompromised friends and family. Mansanti had also joined Umpqua Sewing Warriors due to her respect for the medical community.
From there the idea of masks made in the winery’s colors came up. The initial plan was to distribute those to wine club members, locally at first and at a national level later. However, staff realized that could mean the need for 4,000 masks or more. Mansanti agreed to the task after finding the perfect orange fabric in a bundle that had been donated.
Currently the project is underway with Mansanti getting sewing help from some of her children. Mansanti said she is willing to help as she wants to support local businesses and it’s been “a blessing to their family” as some are currently unemployed.