Amana Woolen Mill producing protective masks for health care workers
AMANA COLONIES, Iowa — Many businesses in the Amana Colonies have closed following the outbreak of COVID-19 across the country and that includes the Amana Woolen Mill. Their employees however are staying busy now sowing masks for health care workers across Eastern Iowa.
"In my down time I do masks here for the different hospitals in the area and for the nursing home in town," Cindy Bowen, one of the managers for the mill said. "It makes me feel that I can contribute, I am not in the medical field, I can't do any of that but I can help those that volunteer and help out in the different facilities."
The mill's employees are not working right now but continue to be paid through the crisis. Many of them are helping to sow masks from home and deliver them to area hospitals. Material often comes from leftover projects in their shop and can be reused depending on the pattern required. Bowen can sow about one mask every 20 minutes but says it can take longer depending on skill level. It's also important to make sure to keep different patterns in mind as different facilities use different masks.
"It's a good project for all of us to do to keep our hands busy," Bowen said. "We have such a nice staff here and we are very happy we can keep them on."
