By Karolyn Gephart
The Sparkly Elephant Sewing Lounge opened in Friendswood in the summer of 2018. It has been a great place for quilters, crafters and seamstresses to get supplies, sew together and have a great time.
Lately, this small business on FM 2351 (Edgewood) in Friendswood has been a home base for distributing more than 4,000 face masks.
Owner Andria Niles got the idea from a friend and started making some for first responders or anyone who needed one. She asked for volunteers to help.
They did. Daily masks are dropped by the shop. One volunteer has made over 1,000 and another over 600.
Niles put together the Sparkly Elephant Mask Making Team and they post frequently on Facebook to update readers.
Currently, Niles reports that she has over 20 volunteers and masks have been given to Hope Village in Friendswood, doctor and dental clinics, nurses, immunity compromised individuals, Friendswood, Pearland, and Harris County Police Departments, Fire Departments, ICU workers and more.
She has received information that US military in Germany are in need of masks so the volunteers are working on that.
The store continues to be open but a stricter policy is in place due to COVID-19. Only two customers can shop at one time but the shop staff will happily bring out items curbside for those who have shopped and paid online.
If anyone is interested in helping make masks or are in need of masks, email info@thesparklyelephant.com.
“We have a long list of mask requests and as they come into the shop, we package them up and give them to whoever is next. If you would like to get on our list, you can send us an email at info@thesparklyelephant.com” Niles said.
