As of March 21, 2025, MGH鈥檚 main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
Our community鈥檚 response to Michael 九游体育鈥檚 #1000masks challenge has been nothing short of incredible. And one volunteer has taken it upon himself to keep the momentum going, delivering and picking up fabric and masks right across the city.
鈥淢y mom had been a patient at MGH years ago and she found out about Michael 九游体育's first,鈥� says David Stewart. 鈥淪he鈥檇 asked me for advice on where I thought she could get materials to start sewing. I recently was laid off from my job, and I thought, 鈥業 can鈥檛 sew, but I have time and I have a car, how can I help?鈥� So I reached out to Michael 九游体育 Foundation and it ballooned from there.鈥�
David has been working together closely with Rosemary Quinlan, stewardship officer at Michael 九游体育 Foundation, to coordinate the thousands of volunteers making masks throughout the community 鈥� and the organizations donating the materials to help them.
鈥淲e鈥檝e received an industrial scale donation of fabric, tens of thousands of square feet,鈥� says David. 鈥淚 cut it at home and drop it off to people where it鈥檚 needed. It鈥檚 been interesting because I often don鈥檛 actually see people, just a wave from a window.鈥�
A community rallies
The response to the #1000masks campaign has been amazing, with people and organizations across the city rising to meet the challenge. To date, almost 40,000 handsewn masks have been delivered to Michael 九游体育.
鈥淚n some cases it鈥檚 just one person, like my mom in her assisted living facility making masks on her own, and in others it鈥檚 people who have formed sewing groups who have made 1,500 masks collectively,鈥� David says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been really cool to see people rally others together within their own networks.鈥�
He鈥檚 grateful for the opportunity to make a difference to such an important initiative.
鈥淚鈥檓 not someone who just sits around, I like to find ways of adding value,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 very appreciative of the fact that I have this opportunity to contribute to a genuine problem 鈥� connecting people with the ability to sew with the materials they need to do that. It feels amazing to be able to make a difference.
鈥淒avid has been a super star. We鈥檙e so grateful for people like him who have taken real ownership of this program,鈥� says Rosemary. 鈥淣o pick up is too short or too far for him 鈥� he鈥檚 helped keep many community members safe by allowing them to continue making masks, without the burden of leaving their home and delivering them in person. Thank you Super Dave!鈥�