Over the last few months, masks have become an essential item to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and wearing them in public is now mandated in Pennsylvania.
PennDOT construction and maintenance crews have been wearing masks for several months now, and many of those have come from Tammy Chiesa, Transportation Equipment Operator S in PennDOT District 6, who donated 100 masks to maintenance crews in Chester County.
Chiesa has been at PennDOT for 5 1/2 years and has owned her own embroidery shop since 2005, specializing in motorcycle club patches. She has had a passion for sewing from the early age of six when she started making clothing for her and her sister's baby dolls. She was making her own clothes by age 8.
"Sewing is a hobby, but I always end up making things for other people and giving them away because it makes me happy to see others happy. The embroidery is the same way - it's more of a hobby," says Chiesa. "I will continue to do this until the crisis is over."
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Our COVID-19 page has additional information about PennDOT's operational changes amid the pandemic.