GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Challenge Enterprises sewing team is usually busy working on bulletproof vests for law enforcement, but that team recently transitioned into sewing masks.

Challenge Enterprises’ sewing team works on a contractual basis, usually fulfilling orders of the vests for SafariLand. But after a recent contract for facemasks, the team is now helping prevent the spread of coronavirus using thread and needles.

“This particular situation is really wonderful,” Challenge Enterprises Chief Operations Officer Katie Vineyard said. “Last week, the Clay Chamber gave us a call to ask about sewing. They wanted to know if we’d be interested in making face masks for Community First Credit Union.”

Vineyard said the team talked last week about the contract and three days later the team was making face masks. By April 17, the team had finished the contract, sewing a total of 400 face masks for CFCU. Vineyard said she thought it would take longer but was pleasantly surprised at how excited and into it the sewing team was about the task.

“I think it was about helping our community,” Vineyard said. “We all want to help, and this was an opportunity for people who work here to do that.”

Challenge Enterprises in a Green Cove Springs-based nonprofit that’s worked in Clay County for 40 years. Their mission is to promote the power of people and possibilities for individuals living with disabilities. Vineyard said the sewing team, which is made up of both people with and without disabilities has been empowered by this opportunity to provide face masks to a local business in Clay County. She said it means a lot to the team.

Vineyard said that one Challenge Enterprises employee that doesn’t work for the sewing team was so inspired by the project that he asked to be taught to sew so that he could pitch in on the face mask effort.

“He had the chance to learn something new and apply that new skill to helping the community,” Vineyard said. “I think it’s an excellent example of promoting the possibilities of people and that’s what we’re all about.”

The team has also been making masks for the internal employees. With the 400 masks for CFCU made, Vineyard said the team will likely continue work on its other non-face mask projects but hopes that the word of mouth from CFCU nabs Challenge Enterprises another face mask job.

“Obviously we all need to be wearing face masks right now and they’re not as abundant right now so it’s nice knowing that we were able to provide some to those in need,” Vineyard said. “It was really great to do that, and we’d love to continue making face masks for other businesses and organizations that need them.”