FEATURE: 'The Rach Place' Making Homemade Masks for Those in Need

Kayla Roan has been sequestered at home with her family like most of us during this historic COVID-19 pandemic.

But the Blackhawks' Client Services Manager has decided to make the most of this predicament by creating and donating masks for those in need.

"My mentality day-to-day is that I like to keep busy. Acts of service are really important to me," Roan said. "While I was just sitting here and ... while watching Netflix and reading books are great, I saw the sewing machine sitting there and fabric sitting there. I would read on social media about how many hospitals needed masks. At least cloth masks would be better than nothing. So it just started out that I would send one to my grandma who is 92 and to some people that I know that may be by themselves.

"I just happened to post a picture of me with some of my masks and (news) spread. It has been good because I have been able to connect with people I haven't talked to for years that I now have learned are in the nursing industry or they are doctors. They don't have the supplies they need, so just to be able to play a small role in that....

"There are people who are scared to go get groceries or scared to just do their day-to-day things. They have been able to wear these masks and it gives them a little bit of comfort. It makes me smile, it makes me feel good that at least they are more comfortable in this situation that we are all in. Trying to keep everyone healthy is first and foremost, for sure."

Sewing has been a major part of Roan's family history and tradition for decades.

"My mom was a quilter, so growing up, the sewing machine was always around our house," Roan said. "Probably about six years ago, I was gifted my first machine. So I started to dabble in it a little bit. Then my friends started having babies and we were getting invited to baby showers. And I decided: 'Hey, why don't I start my own baby blanket business and I could make these blankets and I could make these baby accessories that would be unique to each mom-to-be and the baby that was on the way.'"

Roan's grandmother is Rachel Neff, who is the inspiration for Kayla to name her business "The Rach Place." It wasn't until recently that Kayla began producing the much-needed masks.

"I have fabric, I have a machine. Obviously, we have a lot of time on our hands," she said. "So I put all of these things to good use. I looked up a tutorial and figured out a way to make these things and I started making them as fast as I could. Word kind of spread and I've got nurses, doctors and a lot of essential workers randomly contacting me. It's good, I have been able to donate those and get those out to those first-line workers. People from our (Blackhawks) staff and friends and family have actually been good about donating to the Blackhawks' COVID-19 Response Fund for the masks that I have made them."

In the past two weeks, Roan has created almost 200 masks.

"I use social media: Instagram from @therachplace: My husband got me the most special gift for Christmas and last weekend I got to share it with my favorite person, my Granny Rachel. The Rach Place sewing box will help create meaningful gifts for your special someone in 2020. Big things coming this year!! and Instagram from @therachplace: My husband got me the most special gift for Christmas and last weekend I got to share it with my favorite person, my Granny Rachel. The Rach Place sewing box will help create meaningful gifts for your special someone in 2020. Big things coming this year!!," she said. "My friends and family have been really good about passing it along. That has gotten me to be able to chat with a lot of people I haven't gotten to chat with in a lot of years. So I am kind of reconnecting with people and getting these masks out to people who need to go to the grocery store or need to go to the gas station. Especially those who may be living alone or may have some underlying health issue...it has been good to help them."

Roan also makes masks that fit children.

"I have adult masks and child masks. It's kind of good with the ties," she said. "You can tie it as tight as you want it. The child mask is smaller. They are all the same pattern, but the fabric is completely random. I just used extra fabric that I had from other quilts that I have made. So the masks don't necessarily match. They are reversible. Whatever I had was what I sent out. I was worried at first that people weren't going to like them. But it didn't matter if they like (the appearance) or not, they need them. But people have kind of enjoyed the surprise of what the fabric is. So if I know someone in our department likes Ohio State and I know that I made them a blanket back in the day, I searched for that fabric and I was able to make one from that fabric."

Because of social distancing mandates, getting the masks in the hands of her clients can be challenging.

"I have been able to mail some. And I have also done a lot of drive-by and 'Let me throw it in a paper bag to you from as far away as we can,'" she said. "I also tell people to wash the masks as soon as they get them. I make sure I am wearing gloves and a mask when throwing them into car windows or up to someone's apartment."

Roan's husband, Andy, a Blackhawks' Ticket Sales Manager, helps keep an eye on the couple's 19-month-old son, Cal, as his wife diligently works on the masks in the evenings.

"Andy has been really supportive and he has been good about trying to watch his show or trying to read while my sewing machine is going. It is not the quietest thing. He has been great about that," she said.

"It's kind of crazy, I can do about five or six an hour. There are a lot of steps to it. By the time you cut and then you iron... I do the tie masks, I don't do the elastic because elastic has been sold out everywhere and I have been actually making the ties as well. Once you kind of get a rhythm down, I can do a max of 18 to 20 a night. I am obviously working during the day and I have a 19-month-old. Usually about 8 p.m. to midnight is when I am sewing away on the machine. So I do as many as I can. I am thankful for the weekends because I can really kind of catch up during those times.

"Some of our (Blackhawks) Ambassadors (use the masks), some of the staff members. And some of the staff members have purchased them for themselves and purchased them and told me to donate (the masks) to some of the nurses or other areas. That has been really good to see. There has been a lot of encouragement and good words from everyone we work with. This is my 12th season with the Blackhawks and a lot of people have reached out who work there currently or who have worked there. So it has been good to connect.

"It's funny, I am usually a 9 p.m. bedtime person. But now it is about midnight. I try to get in as many masks a night as I can. It has been a little change in my sleep pattern. But it is OK, knowing we are doing it for a good reason."