‘A piece of the Springer’ will help patients at Columbus hospital — and you can help
The Springer Opera House costume shop is used to stitching costumes for upcoming productions, but now they are utilizing their skills in a new way during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Sandy Dawson and Elizabeth Verslues have been busy creating face mask kits that are distributed to crafters in the community. The crafters then finish the face masks and return them to the Springer for delivery to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital.
“Our last production was ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, and now it’s face masks,“ said Dawson, the Springer’s resident costume designer and shop manager. “We’re specifically helping Piedmont in their ER work. These masks are going to be distributed to the patients in the waiting rooms.”
Each kit contains a set of 10 masks and includes all of the pieces needed: pieces of wire for the nose, elastic, instructions and an extra pattern piece to make one at home if the crafter has cotton, Verslues, the shop’s first hand, said.
Allie Kent, the Springer’s director of audience and marketing development, said the Springer — and theatre — is all about community.
“Now that we’ve had to close our doors for social distancing we’re a little lost,” Kent said. “Without our patrons here we just don’t feel whole.”
Kent said the effort is one way their staff is helping during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic: “It’s a small gesture that’s going to make a huge impact.”
For Dawson, it’s also a way to get a little bit of the Springer back into the community.
On Thursday, she showed off a mask containing fabric used in a Minnie Pearl costume, and also in their production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
“I think it’s wonderful that we can use fabric from the Springer because there’s a piece of the Springer in every mask that we make,” Dawson said. “...heart and soul, fabric and stitching from the staff.”
Those interested in getting a kit to finish, donating fabric or materials, or in need of more information can contact Kent via email at akent@springeroperahouse.org, or message the Springer’s Facebook page.
