OHS student sewing medical masks for healthcare professionals

OHS student sewing medical masks for healthcare professionals
Posted on 03/31/2020
Blanchard sewing masksAfter developing a passion for sewing and fashion in middle school and honing her skills in high school, Oakville High School junior Megan Blanchard is using her skills to help medical professionals during the COVID-19 crisis.

Blanchard is sewing medical masks that are being donated to local hospitals. She had made 50 so far, with plans to make more. 

“I was so tired of the negativity surrounding the virus,” Blanchard said. “I wanted to do something positive, and with my sewing skills, I knew that this was something that I could do to change the negative to a positive.” 


After taking all of the sewing classes at OHS, Blanchard enrolled in the MyPath course where she designed her own curriculum centered on sewing and fashion, which helped her learn the skills necessary to make the masks.

“One of the people we donated the masks to sent a photo of a healthcare professional wearing it,” Blanchard said. “It was such a thrilling experience seeing them wearing something I created that can help her become safer with her job as she’s facing this deadly virus.

The masks have been donated to Missouri Baptist Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Siteman Cancer Center South, St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and other sites.


Others in the Mehlville School District community have also been sewing masks including Bierbaum Elementary School counselor Nathan Perkins and Oakville Middle School sixth grade teacher Emili Harvey. Bernard Middle School teachers Emily Glastetter and Gail Farris, as well as students Sophia Nguyen, Noah Dobbins, Jenna Jabr and Clara Belcher are making masks, too, and Point Elementary School student Lexi Huber made twenty masks for members of her family, her dad's employees, some neighbors and her teacher.
The Mehlville School District strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and other characteristics protected by law. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: contact Adam Smith at 314-467-5006 or [email protected].