Acts of Kindness: Local residents respond to Navy’s call for masks

Dorothy Craft answers the call and polishes off 250 masks for the Navy in less than 24 hours.

Sunday, April 5, Judy Williams received a message from her granddaughter, Kayla Fox, asking for help making fabric masks for the Navy. Could she overnight them the next day, in less than 24 hours?

“Kayla’s husband, Josh, a Naval officer, was being deployed,” Williams explained, “and everyone needed to have two fabric masks to wear on the submarine. Usually the Navy would be able to supply all needed equipment, but during this time, all of their masks had been sent to hospitals.”

Williams’ first action was to contact Dorothy Craft and enlist her assistance. “Dorothy agreed to make as many as possible,” Williams said. “Her amazing response was ‘I find it a privilege to be able to help supply the Navy with the needed masks.’”

Craft’s brother, David Marshall, is a retired Navy commander, and she was eager to call and let him know that her masks were going to Florida for the crew of USS Rhode Island Gold.

Craft has been a busy lady. Since the CDC recommended the wearing of cloth masks, she has made more than 250 of them.

“Most of the masks have gone to members of our community,” she stated. “Also, I made 25 masks for healthcare workers at the McLaren Health Care Clinic of Lansing,” she said. “The only thing slowing me down is the lack of elastic, in spite of generous donations.”

Williams whipped off nearly as many masks as Craft, and her granddaughter proudly informed her that her family and friends also managed to make 250 of the needed masks. “These masks, along with a few other donated masks, are enough to give each sailor two or three masks,” Fox said.

The captain’s wife sent a note to be passed on to show the captain’s gratitude. “Thank you again,” the message read, “for all the masks you, your mom, grandma, and friends have made for the sailors of the USS Rhode Island Gold.”