Madelyn Jones is a member of the women’s golf team. A sophomore, Jones hails from Austin, Texas.
My team and coaches have been very supportive of each other during this time, especially after the abrupt end to our season. We were pulled off of the golf course during the middle of a round and were told to go home as quickly as we could. After that, we have been checking in with each other periodically to ensure we are all doing alright.
When the pandemic hit and we were told we would finish the semester online, I began looking for ways that I could help in my community. I am a pre-med student and fascinated by anything in the medical field. When I started looking for an in-person volunteer opportunity with a local clinic, I could not find anything because I’ve only completed my freshman year, and volunteer positions in my area were limited to medical students.
Instead, I discovered that the Austin Disaster Relief Network needed help making masks. ADRN is a network of 200 churches in the Austin area that seeks to respond quickly in the event of disaster. I was involved in National Charity League in high school and had some experience with this organization, so I decided that this was how I could help out my community.
Sewing is a skill that my mom passed down to me many years ago and something that I really enjoy doing. There is something so satisfying about taking a strip of fabric and then creating something useful out of it. I soon learned that I could use this passion of mine to make something we needed: masks.
I’ve taken classes online all summer, and also am dedicated to keeping my golf game sharp through several hours of daily practice, but starting in early June, I began to sew masks. Late at night, after I fulfill class and golf obligations, I sew for about one to three hours. I’m able to produce masks much quicker now that I’ve had some practice and adjusted the steps in order to increase efficiency.