COVID-19 Heroes: Family Serving Family – and Keeping Each Other Safe

From left, Peterson AFB Exchange managers Pam Vellely and Tiffany Alvares sport face masks bearing their favorite teams’ colors. 

By Marisa Conner and Conner Hammett

The Exchange is issuing reusable, washable face masks for all customer-facing and distribution center associates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Until the masks arrive, associates are encouraged to make their own face coverings to comply with DoD guidelines, and associates worldwide have pitched in to help.

Peterson Air Force Base Inventory Control Associate Lois Schainost, known for her quilting skills, started making masks for associates about two weeks ago. When the DoD issued its mask guidance April 5, Schainost had the team covered.

“I got here Monday morning, and first thing I had to do was make sure the team had masks before we opened,” said Pam Vallely, assistant store manager. “I asked Lois, ‘What do we need to make some masks? Do I need go get some T-shirts off the sales floor?’ Lois just reached in her desk pulled out three or four grocery bags with masks in all different colors.”

Schainost estimates she’s made enough masks for more than half of the store’s associates and says she’ll keep making them until everyone gets at least one. She’s even taken requests for masks featuring co-workers’ favorite sports teams.

“We just look out for each other around here,” she said.

In Puerto Rico, the Exchange team made more than 170 face masks to protect colleagues. Following the surgeon general’s tips for making masks, the team divided up into shifts to work in the morning and afternoon. Visual Merchandiser Jessica Rosado, Shift Manager Eric Diaz, Office Associate Evelyn Vera, Human Resources Assistant Eira Arce, Human Resources Technician Gabriel Sepulveda and Human Resources Manager Cristina Delgado all worked together to create the masks.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base General Manager Mikel Hunter and his team had the same idea. Human Resources Recruiting Manager Leslie Petersen and Warehouse Worker Aida Alicea ran home to get their sewing machines and started cutting bed sheets to make masks. Visual Merchandiser Kyoko Martin ironed the material and the team made reusable, washable masks for the entire Davis-Monthan team—about 210 associates.

“It was a team effort, and we received many thanks,” Petersen said. “355^th Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Lyda’s wife stopped by and said she was impressed at how far we go for our associates.

Has your team been making masks? If so, share your stories in the comments below and send your photos to ExchangePost@aafes.com!