Fullerton College Fashion Instructor Rachel Nevarez joined hundreds of garment manufacturers in Southern California last week to help make masks for veterinary hospitals, COVID-19 testing facilities, and many essential businesses. Nevarez is working with her husband’s manufacturing warehouse to help manufacture and distribute masks to essential businesses across the U.S.
“We’ve shipped almost 1,000 masks to over 25 states in the last four days,” said Nevarez on April 10.
Nevarez and her husband started the operation after his company, which specializes in pleating & specialty stitching for the fashion industry, film and television, and costumes and uniforms for Disneyland began to see a decline in production immediately following COVID-19 stay-at-home orders.
“We are extremely happy and grateful to be able to make people feel safe, allow them to continue to do their essential jobs, all while keeping employees employed,” Nevarez said.
The Nevarez’s have partnered with L.A. Protects, an initiative of the City of Los Angeles that connects garment manufacturers in Los Angeles and surrounding areas with those who are in need of supplies.
Nevarez is just one of many instructors using their talent and resources to help with the COVID-19 crisis. Do you know of others? Share them with us! Send an email to campus.communications@fullcoll.edu.