Top

CCRI community comes together to design and donate masks to healthcare workers

MasksMarch 31, 2020

With a husband who works as a nurse at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Enrollment Services Representative Dawn Barlow fully understands the dangers of coronavirus and the need to stop the spread of the global pandemic.

In addition to keeping her family safe, Barlow wanted to come up with a way that she, too, could help out. With more than 160,000 cases in the United States, there has been a recent shortage of medical supplies among healthcare professionals, including surgical masks.

Through the power of social media, Barlow has enlisted the help of family, friends and colleagues to craft and donate protective masks to staffers at The Miriam. Since she launched the initiative two weeks ago, Barlow has collected more than 400 masks. CCRI colleague and Chemistry Department Technical Staff Assistant Jocelyn Bluto has made more than 25 of her own since connecting with Barlow on Facebook.

Barlow hopes to solicit more volunteers, even those who cannot sew; they can be useful either by donating the material to make masks or going as far as pre-cutting the fabric for those who actually put them together. The goal is to also spread this initiative to more hospitals in Rhode Island.

“Something like this really shows our healthcare providers that we do care,” Barlow said.  “We could be their patients one day, so we want to take care of them and make sure they go home safely to their own families.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit close to home for Barlow on a number of levels. In addition to her husband’s responsibilities at Miriam, she has family in Italy, which has reported more than 100,000 positive cases. So far, she says, her family is safe, but she also acknowledges that no one is completely out of the woods yet. As the number of positive cases increases in Rhode Island, her husband will eventually move from the Emergency Room to the Intensive Care Unit at The Miriam.

“It is a little nerve-wracking,” she said, “and you go through moments where the fear takes a stronger hold than you are comfortable with, but there is a lot of great information out there and a lot of good medical professionals putting time into studying this.”

The philosophy behind the masks, Barlow said, is that “something is better than nothing.” The masks aren’t specifically designed to be worn as the only means of protection, but rather as a protective barrier in addition to a more traditional, disposable surgical mask. The hand-crafted masks can be washed and sanitized, which Barlow hopes can prolong the lifespan of the disposable masks, thereby assisting in some small way in reducing the worldwide shortage.

“We’re making as many as we can,” Barlow said. “As far as what it all means, we really don’t know yet. There are little bits of information here and there on how disposables are being sterilized, and when this is all said and done, we’ll have a lot of new information that can be used in the event of a future outbreak.”

Bluto, who has worked at the Knight Campus since 1994, had no previous sewing experience until she began hand-making her masks earlier this month. She connected with Barlow online – at the time, the two didn’t even realize they were colleagues at CCRI – and wanted to offer her assistance in any way possible, so she began watching online tutorials to learn how to sew. She had a decent supply of fabric at home from some previous projects she had planned to work on and soon began making custom masks with a small pocket in the back, which healthcare professionals can utilize by inserting a more common disposable mask.

Bluto’s designs range from animal prints to seasonal designs. She said it takes her 25 minutes to make each mask, from cutting the fabric to the actual sewing.

“This is just a really cool project,” Bluto said. “For one, it allows me to do something beneficial that can help others, plus I’ve had the chance to meet Dawn and now have her as a new contact at CCRI, which is amazing. This will hopefully encourage others to get involved and continue bringing people together. As a nation, I think we’re all pulling together to figure this out.”

With her father having worked as a general practitioner for a number of years, Bluto can relate to what Barlow is going through at home. Bluto remembers her father working in the medical field during the AIDS outbreak in the early 1980s and sees similarities between that and COVID-19 based on the fear and uncertainty when the viruses initially surfaced.

“At the time, we really didn’t know a lot about AIDS,” Bluto recalled, “but people were dying and it was on everyone’s mind, from not knowing where it came from, to who it was attacking or who was going to be affected. It was a scary time. I think one of the differences now is progress and awareness is coming along a lot faster with coronavirus than it did with AIDS.”

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to grip the entire world, but Bluto and Barlow are confident new information released daily will assist in limiting the spread of the virus. They will also continue to do their part in making sure healthcare professionals are safe as they put their lives at risk to treat those affected by this disease.

“I know the masks we’re providing so far is just a drop in the bucket, but it’s a great start,” Barlow said. “There are things people can do to help, even if it’s just donating the material to people who can sew. It’s thrilling to see such positive feedback. CCRI is such a great community and I wouldn’t be surprised if more people jump on board. We’re just figuring this out as we go along, but with a little bit of organization, we can provide a lot of support to our healthcare community.”

If you would like to assist, please contact Dawn Barlow via email at [email protected].  

Share this story

Latest News

CCRI Alum Justin Bibee Named National Peace Corps Association '40 Under 40'

CCRI Alum Justin Bibee Named National Peace Corps Association '40 Under 40'

July 10, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly celebrates alumnus Dr. Justin Bibee, a 2009 graduate and Cranston, RI native, who has been named to the National Peace Corps Association’s 2024 “40 Under 40” list, recognizing the next generation of leaders who are reimagining American leadership through service, spirit, and solutions.

Read More

Former CCRI Athletic Administrators Vin Cullen and Kevin Salisbury Receive National Recognitions

Former CCRI Athletic Administrators Vin Cullen and Kevin Salisbury Receive National Recognitions

July 08, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island is proud to announce that longtime coach and athletic director Vin Cullen has been named a recipient of the NJCAA Coaches Association Legacy Award, a national honor recognizing individuals who have made a lasting impact on two-year college athletics and demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student-athletes throughout their careers.

Read More

CCRI Cybersecurity Club Tops Regional Powerhouses In National Competition

CCRI Cybersecurity Club Tops Regional Powerhouses In National Competition

June 27, 2025

WARWICK, R.I. -- The Community College of Rhode Island’s Cybersecurity Club is riding high after succeeding on a national scale during the spring. Thanks to a strong showing at the National Cyber League (NCL) spring competition, CCRI placed 27th nationally out of 510 colleges and universities in the final Cyber Power Rankings for the spring season. The performance was commended by David Ziechick, commissioner of the NCL, which has students perform real-world cybersecurity tasks that translate to the workforce.

Read More

CCRI Alum Johnny Villella Wins Emmy For Story On Providence Patrolman

CCRI Alum Johnny Villella Wins Emmy For Story On Providence Patrolman

June 23, 2025

Johnny Villella needs to clear more space in his trophy case. Villella, a CCRI alum, won an Emmy at the 2025 New England Emmy Awards in the category of News Feature: Serious Feature (Multiple Reports). The award is one of many for Villella, who’s enjoyed a long, decorated career at WPRI-TV (Channel 12 in Rhode Island).

Read More

CCRI Joins Achieving The Dream Network To Advance Student Success And Community Impact

CCRI Joins Achieving The Dream Network To Advance Student Success And Community Impact

June 16, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is pleased to announce that it has joined the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.

Read More

Asteroid Named After CCRI Alum Francine Jackson

Asteroid Named After CCRI Alum Francine Jackson

June 16, 2025

On February 24, 2025, the International Astronomical Union Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (WGSBN) recognized CCRI alumni Francine Jackson’s contributions to astronomy education and outreach by naming an asteroid in her honor.The designation was announced in WGSBN Bulletin 5, No. 3, under new names of Minor Planets.

Read More

How Theater Alum Max Hayden Earned CCRI's Fifth Gamm Fellowship

How Theater Alum Max Hayden Earned CCRI's Fifth Gamm Fellowship

June 11, 2025

When an opportunity presented itself, Max Hayden took it and ran with it. Hayden initially focused on behind-the-scenes work for CCRI’s theater program. But after accepting and thriving in the lead role for the school’s Yellowman production in 2023, Hayden became a fixture of the school’s theater program over the last two years.

Read More

CCRI Students Blending Art And Science In Unique Exhibition Funded By NSF Grant

CCRI Students Blending Art And Science In Unique Exhibition Funded By NSF Grant

June 04, 2025

If you love art or science, and especially if you love both, you’ll want to visit CCRI’s Lincoln Campus this month. Throughout the spring, CCRI Art & Design students collaborated with CCRI STEM professors and students to create original, science-inspired art projects. Funded by a $15,000 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR initiative, this collaboration highlights creative potential that emerges when these two disciplines meet.

Read More

76-year-old Musician Completing CCRI Degree Decades After Starting

76-year-old Musician Completing CCRI Degree Decades After Starting

June 02, 2025

Nearly 30 years after beginning his CCRI education, 76-year-old Ed McGuirl is about to check the final box on his long, fascinating résumé. In the mid-1990s, the Jamestown resident studied at CCRI to pursue a social services degree that would complement his work as a substance-abuse treatment professional. But a busy work schedule forced McGuirl to indefinitely pause his studies – until now.

Read More

Spring 2025 Dean's List

Spring 2025 Dean's List

May 28, 2025

The Community College of Rhode Island announces its Spring 2025 Dean's List. Students enrolled in a degree program who have completed 12 credits with a grade point average of 3.25 or higher this semester with no grade lower than “C” are eligible for this scholastic honor.

Read More

'Overjoyed' CCRI Graduate Opens Up On Getting Engaged At Commencement'

'Overjoyed' CCRI Graduate Opens Up On Getting Engaged At Commencement'

May 23, 2025

Warwick, RI -- Samantha Lescarbeau knew she would experience one life-changing event at CCRI commencement. But she never expected what would happen after she walked across the stage at Amica Mutual Pavillion on May 15.

Read More

CCRI Announces Winners of 2025 Student Film Festival

CCRI Announces Winners of 2025 Student Film Festival

May 22, 2025

Warwick, RI -- The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announced the winners of its 2025 Student Film Festival following a weekend of cinematic talent and storytelling. The festival kicked off with a red-carpet gala on Friday, May 10, and continued on Saturday, May 11, with a full day of student film screenings. The event drew students, faculty, and local film lovers to celebrate the achievements of CCRI’s talented filmmakers.

Read More

CCRI Launches Bold Expansion of Work-Based Learning to Strengthen Rhode Island's Workforce

CCRI Launches Bold Expansion of Work-Based Learning to Strengthen Rhode Island's Workforce

May 22, 2025

Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will launch the next phase of work-based learning to increase internships for students to work directly in workplace environments, gaining valuable skills and experience necessary for college and career success.

Read More

CCRI and Delta Dental of Rhode Island Partner to Strengthen Dental Workforce for Rhode Island's Future

CCRI and Delta Dental of Rhode Island Partner to Strengthen Dental Workforce for Rhode Island's Future

May 20, 2025

A partnership between the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) is building a pipeline of highly trained, workforce-ready dental hygienists to respond to a nationwide demand for dental hygienists and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable oral healthcare system in Rhode Island.

Read More

CCRI Celebrates its 60th Commencement with Powerful Speeches, Generational Milestones, and a Proud Legacy of Alumni

CCRI Celebrates its 60th Commencement with Powerful Speeches, Generational Milestones, and a Proud Legacy of Alumni

May 16, 2025

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated a milestone achievement: its 60th Commencement Ceremony. Held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the event marked the culmination of CCRI’s year-long diamond anniversary celebration and was a stirring tribute to six decades of transformation, opportunity, and achievement for Rhode Islanders.

Read More

Upcoming Events
Jun.
1

Patient Support Specialist - July 28, 2025 Cohort

June 1, 2025 8:00 AM - July 29, 2025 3:30 PM

Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)

Jun.
2

Introduction to Table Games - July 28, 2025 Cohort

June 2, 2025 All Day

Flanagan Campus

Jun.
5

Medical Assistant - September 12, 2025 Cohort

June 5, 2025 All Day

Flanagan Campus

Jun.
6

Workforce Dental Assistant - September 15, 2025 Cohort

June 6, 2025 All Day

Newport County Campus

Jun.
7

Fast Track to CNC Manufacturing - Ongoing

June 7, 2025 All Day

Liston Campus