USST Member Proffit's Family Donates 3,000+ Masks During Covid-19 Outbreak
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 outbreak cut Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team Development athlete Ainsley Proffit's season short, she and her family have been busy making lemonade out of lemons, as they've banded together to make and donate more than 3000 masks to their local community in St. Louis, Mo., and beyond.
Ainsley's family owns a small children's clothing company, so she says it was a natural fit because they already had the necessary supplies to produce face masks. "It was initially my mom’s idea to make masks," said Ainsley. "When she started hearing about the shortages all around, she knew we had to step in. Together, my mom, dad, and I transitioned the clothing business into mask-making instead. We are cutting and sewing all masks here in St. Louis."
According to Ainsley, the masks are being donated to anyone who asks, and the primary locations they've donated to so far include the following:
- Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (St. Louis)
- Chicago Police Department
- Pediatric Doctors and Patients
- Navy Sailors based in Oceana
- Seattle Emergency Room Staff
"We are still making masks every day, and plan to until the Coronavirus has passed," said Ainsley. For athletes like Ainsley, who are used to spending March and early-mid April skiing in their final races, this has been quite the change of pace. Even so, she has kept a positive attitude and has found other ways to stay busy. Aside from making masks and giving back as a family, Ainsley also recently bought a slackline, with a quarantine goal of mastering a new skill.
"I have had about four days of practice on it so far (definitely a long way to go before I look like a pro)," joked Ainsley. "I am hoping that by the time quarantine is over that I can say I have mastered the skill. It’s turned out to be a fun challenge, and is a great excuse to be outdoors!"
Ainsley and her family are still producing masks, so if you or anyone you know is interested in getting access to them, you can send her a direct message via Instagram.
