WSU Joins Statewide ‘Sew Your True Colors’ Campaign to Benefit Frontline Health Care Workers
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University will join all of Utah’s institutions of higher education in coming together to support ProjectProtect, a grass-roots initiative to produce 5 million medical-grade masks to address the national shortage of personal protective equipment.
The collaborative effort between University of Utah Health, Intermountain Healthcare, Latter-day Saint Charities, several Utah nonprofits, and tens of thousands of volunteer sewers across the state already has produced more than 3 million masks to protect frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, universities, colleges and technical colleges are rallying together to take the project across the finish line. They are launching a “Sew Your True Colors” campaign, asking their campus communities to sew masks using thread in the color of their institution. When frontline caregivers use these masks, they will know that Utah’s higher education community supports them.
"With Weber State University's leadership role in educating health professionals, we know Wildcats are especially determined to protect frontline workers,” said Weber State University President Brad Mortensen. “I'm proud to ask our entire Weber State family to join together in this life-saving effort."
Volunteers can sign up starting today at ProjectProtect.health and then pick up their kits of 100 masks at one of six donation sites from Harrisville to St. George. The kits contain all materials needed except thread. Sewing volunteers are encouraged, but not required, to use their school colors and sew the school spirit into the mask. Masks will be returned on Saturday, May 30 at the same location as pickup.
On Saturday, May 16, school mascots will be at the different drop-off sites to encourage volunteers to register for another kit to Sew Your True Colors.
To produce masks, volunteers will need a sewing machine, thread, scissors and pins, but they do not need a high level of sewing skill. Detailed instructions will be provided. Each kit will include 100 masks, and, depending on the level of experience, each mask should take five to 10 minutes to sew, for a total of 10 to 15 hours over 11 days. Many volunteers have engaged their entire family to pin, cut and sew. Others have divided the 100 masks between neighbors, families and friends.
“I am overjoyed to see all higher education institutions in Utah coming together to support our medical workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, including some of our very own alumni, in this time of great need,” said Harris H. Simmons, Chair of the USHE Board of Regents. “By working together, we can reach the goal of producing 5 million medical-grade pieces of PPE through this meaningful effort."
For a link to photos of Waldo sewing and modeling his mask, click here.
For a link to a 20-second video of Waldo doing his part to sew a mask, click here.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
Utah System of Higher Education
- Contact:
Allison Barlow Hess, Public Relations director
801-626-7948 • ahess@weber.edu