SYDNEY, N.S. — Crocheted bands with buttons are helping staff at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital save their ears from breakdown which results from wearing face masks all day.
The crafted items have been donated to hospital workers by Janet Dawson, owner of the Bobbin Tree in Sydney. Not only does she make the bands, she has recruited others to help with the initiative. To date, some 140 ear-saver bands have been given to regional hospital staff.
Like other crafters in the area (Yvonne Kennedy in Homeville, for example, has been rallying folks to sew buttons on headbands for front-line workers), Dawson wanted to show support for health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the second week of April, staff at the regional hospital have had to wear face masks during their entire shift.
One of Dawson’s friends, Dr. Margaret Fraser, works in the hospital emergency room and Dawson knew Fraser could get the ear savers in the hands of those needing them.
So she started making them and put a call out to crocheters and sewers in her network to help make the ear savers.
“I took enough buttons from my own stash for 90 plus bands, to give to someone who was crocheting like mad, and so far I’ve picked up 50-plus finished bands from her to take to Margaret,” said Dawson who has been crocheting some and placing buttons on bands other people drop off to her.
“I’ve also given her some bands that others have delivered to the shop ... because I haven’t got the time to do it myself as quickly as they’re needed. I’m the spider in the middle of the web and the shop is the hub. But I’m delivering and picking up too.”
Dawson estimates she’s already given 70 of the bands to Fraser and said she had 55 to pick up from another woman plus had to drop buttons off to another crocheter.
“There are more getting made all the time,” she said.
Fraser said hospital staff have been very grateful for the ear savers.
“It has lifted morale. People are really touched that total strangers are making something just to make us more comfortable at work,” she said.
“They are amazed and happier because they have the bands. One nurse told me it restored her faith.”
Dawson has a dropbox on the front door of her shop, located at 48 Prince St., Sydney, for people to put buttons or crocheted bands they wish to donate. She is also able to drop off or pick up buttons or finished bands at someone’s home, which is done while following all social distancing orders in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
