Note: This article was a part of our Salute to Hometown Heroes special section, which published April 23, 2020. You can read the full section at haldimandpress.com/the-haldimand-press-online and choosing “Salute to Hometown Heroes”.
By Valerie Posthumus
The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—When the call came out in Haldimand County for health care professionals needing personal protective equipment (PPE) and face shields, local resident and business owner of Crafty’Ish, Tricia Dekker-Lovegrove, knew just what to do.
The transparencies she cut for crafting at home would work to produce the much-needed shields. She said, “They seemed like the perfect product for shields. I found a free pattern posted online that I tweaked for what I had in mind,” said Dekker-Lovegrove of the pattern she used from the Silhouette Design Studio page.
The first design by Crafty’Ish.
Dekker-Lovegrove said, “I contacted my crafty friend, co-worker at Community Living, and Jarvis business owner of Dragonfly Designs, Dawn Haas, with my pitch looking for supplies towards the original face shield design. Not only did she donate some supplies, but a few days later called with an idea using her 3D printer. I didn’t even know they had one. And thus began the collaboration between myself/Crafty’Ish and Dawn and Tamara Haas of Dragonfly Designs for the creation of the second design, a face shield holder with replaceable shields.”
So far, donations of the shields have been made to help frontline workers at the following locations: Haldimand War Memorial Hospital, Edgewater Gardens, Grandview Lodge, Maplegrove Place, Haldimand County EMS, Community Living Haldimand, Parents For Community Living Kitchener, and Christian Horizons (group homes for those with developmental delays).
To date, supplies have been obtained “through some personal supplies and the generous donations of many in Haldimand County: Art Service Office Supply, Thompson Creek Elementary School, Rlb Designs, Grand Erie Home Hardware, Dunnville Christian School, some personal friends, and Dragonfly Designs. At this time we are most in need of 7/16” thick weather stripping (or thicker). Also, we would love to find other people with 3D printers willing to donate time and supplies to create shield holders,” said Dekker-Lovegrove.
“As of right now Crafty’Ish has donated around 240 shields with foam. Together, Crafty’Ish and Dragonfly designs has donated around 60 shield holders and 100 shields and we are continuing to make more. I didn’t expect any attention for my little project, but this might open the opportunity for more involvement and that is thrilling.”
To learn more about this project, donate, or become involved, call 905-518-3379, email craftyishcustomcreations@gmail.com, or find Crafty’Ish on Facebook.
