The following article details the positive actions of one of our own, as published in the Trinidad Express Newspaper, April 6, 2020, by Kwame Laurence.
REFRESHING OTHERS
Nero meets COVID-19 needs with face masks
Kwame Laurence
kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25, New International Version)
Tonya Nero is living proof that God is serious about His promise of prosperity. The COVID-19 pandemic created a need, and the US-based distance runner responded.
“I love to sew,” Nero told the Express, “and I’m always looking for new things to make. When I saw that people were requesting homemade masks, I downloaded the pattern and gave it a try. My goal was to help anyone in need since there is a shortage. After putting my post on Facebook, nurses, friends, and people from the community contacted me.”
Nero is a post-graduate student at Wichita State University (WSU) in Kansas, USA, and serves as a volunteer assistant distance coach at the school. But the demand for her face masks have gone way beyond her community. One of Nero’s Facebook friends recently made an appeal for donations for the purchase of masks for hospitals in a city located more than 1,800 miles from Wichita.
“Y’all WSU Hall of Famer Tonya Nero,” the Facebook post stated, “is making masks for those who are in need!! Her price is 4 for US$10!! One of my mentors is a nurse in the state of Washington and they don’t have any of these at their hospitals in the city of Bothell. Would you assist me in making donations to get some made so I can send them to share with the hospitals there?”
Nero said that while her cotton masks do not offer maximum protection from COVID-19, important needs are being met.
“I think a lot of people understand that the cotton material is not as safe as the PPE masks, but they believe that it is better than nothing at all. And it can be washed and re-used. Above all, customers love the bright colours and patterns that I have. To some of them, it adds joy to the gloom they face each day. My face mask business is going well as the product is in demand right now.”
Nero said she is grateful the novel coronavirus outbreak is not out of control in the state of Kansas.
“The COVID-19 situation is not too bad in this area yet, but every day there are new cases. We are on stay-at-home orders right now and classes are online. The situation is being monitored daily and necessary adjustments made.”
Nero’s training programme has not been completely disrupted by COVID-19.
“The good thing about being a distance runner is that I can run anywhere or do exercises at home to stay fit. It’s hard to do speed workouts that are usually done on a track, but I can always adjust. Also, the GPS watch helps a lot with measuring distance.
“With the stay-at-home order,” the 31-year-old athlete explained, “I can still run outside because Wichita is not a dense city. So, on a 6-mile run, I might pass by ten people for the most, and we can keep a safe distance apart.”
Nero is very focused on meeting the safety needs of others, and at the same time negotiating the challenges of being a student-athlete.
“Not much has changed financially. But I am grateful for the support of family and the opportunity to use my sewing skills for a little extra income.”
Nero can be contacted via Instagram @tonyanero for enquiries about her homemade face masks.