An essential aspect of our team dynamic has always been to inspire and encourage volunteers to continue to make masks. Even after several long months of donations, the volunteers have consistently surprised me with their commitment to not only make masks, but also to utilize their individual talents to help us as a team. This week I would like to recognize Andrew K., a 10th grade student who has consistently demonstrated his ability to motivate others to continue to push forward as a group.
Since the creation of HSFL, Andrew has shown his passion to the organization and his motivation to take up roles that are needed. For example, in the beginning of HSFL, our team wanted to focus on maximizing our output as much as possible. At the time, around mid-March, COVID cases were soaring and hospitals were requesting as many masks as possible. Andrew decided to hand-sew masks. Typically, hand-sewn masks take twice as much time to sew and entails a tedious process that requires meticulous concentration. Yet every week, without fail, Andrew was able to sew 10 to 25 masks. His willingness to fill in jobs that were the most strenuous was the first glimpse into his character.
Later, as HSFL began to branch out to detention centers, Andrew volunteered to cut out the inmate masks (a one-cut design mask) to increase the amount we were donating. At the time, we were in desperate need for more people to make this new type of mask. Thanks to Andrew’s initiative, we were able to donate over 800 masks to the Montgomery County Detention Center in a single week.
Soon, as more volunteers joined our team, I decided we could use videos to spread awareness about our project. Of course, Andrew immediately was willing to set up to the challenge. However, this process was by no means simple. After weeks of back and forward emails detailing potential Youtube ideas, I asked him if he would be able to create a video thanking our backers from our Kickstarter Campaign. I wanted to make something to show all the effort and time put into every donation box that we would send out.
Together, we asked all our volunteers to record themselves sewing, cutting elastic, cutting fabric, or dropping off the masks to detail a week’s process to reach the final donation. I hoped this “Behind-the-Scenes” Video would have the potential to showcase our hard work not only to the parents and backers, but more importantly to the volunteers who could recognize how integral they were to the team.
Andrew and I continued to storyboard the video and eventually came up with a step by step process from calling facilities to buying fabric to the final drop off at the detention center or hospital. Throughout the next month, Andrew would send me partially edited clips so that I could review them and send additional feedback. This hectic back-and-forth process, which took careful analysis of every second of the video, took another two weeks to complete. However, in the end, Andrew’s creative process and effort was apparent in the final product.
Though small, this video represents an insight into the spirit of each individual who is a part of our team. Andrew’s ability to convey this message reminds me that when given the opportunity, the talents of our volunteers are able to produce incredible results. His final video along with his motivation is inspiring and I am truly grateful for all of his work.
Thanks Andrew!
December 1st, 2020