Joann Stores launches effort-to-make items to safeguard healthcare workers

Joann Stores is utilizing its classrooms and supplies to mobilize crafters across America to help safeguard healthcare workers amid Covid-19. While obeying social distancing guidelines, the arts-and-crafts retailer will open its classes, beginning 23 March 2020 to anyone who wants to help make essential items for health care workers, including gowns, facemasks, and covers, and other things to donate to America’s hospitals.  

Contributing locations will offer sewing machines, materials, and guidance to help customers safely make the items. Joann will deliver and donate 100% of the supplies needed for these projects for those who come in to shape. Classroom tenancy will be limited to adhere to the CDC-recommended guidelines for local restrictions and social distancing.  Employees will safeguard continuous sanitization of spaces, materials, as well as the rest of the store.

Those who want to shape the effort at home will be able to take benefit from Curbside Pickup options and Joann’s ship-to-home and find tutorials to make the items on the retailer’s web site.  All open Joann locations will help as collection points for those making in their homes, and all items shaped by customers will be donated to help medical systems extend their dwindling supplies of protective equipment, and will be used at the hospital’s discretion. Besides, Joann is working with larger hospitals and medical facilities to secure materials such as fabric, elastic, and clear vinyl to hospitals that need supplies.

Wade Miquelon, President & CEO of Joann, said that the amazing thing about the crafting community is that, specifically in difficult times, they are always looking for ways to help. The Joann stores are seeing hospital workers, individuals, and organizations coming into the stores for supplies to make the essential items, and the customers are asking how they can help. So many are spending their money and time to help in this tragic situation, and the Joann stores want to step in to do its part to protect the fantastic people who are helping the communities we serve.

Besides helping individuals make-to-give, Joann is working with larger hospitals and medical facilities to protect materials such as elastic, fabric, and clear vinyl to hospitals that need supplies. Entities that require supplies should contact at joannplus@joann.com.