When Covid 19 hit our community I think we all wanted to do something to help. Ann Farrell, Chris Grochowski and their daughters Michaela, Erin and Mae decided that they could use their sewing skills to make masks for their friends and family. Ann and Chris are local attorneys who specialize in elder law. They realize how vulnerable the elderly are to this disease and when the CDC recommended wearing masks they knew they wouldn’t be easy to find.

Ann’s daughter Michaela is finishing up her master’s degree in elementary education at Fairfield and was doing her student teaching in Meriden when the schools closed due to Covid 19. Disappointed not to be with her students, Michaela looked for other ways to give back to the community. Mae and Erin were uprooted from their classes and at home, studying online. Missing their friends and also looking for something positive to do, they were happy to get involved.

To date collectively, Ann, Chris and their daughters have made masks for over 500 people and shipped them all over the country. When Chris saw on social media that local photographer, Cindy Parker Cassella of Impressions Studio, was looking to see who was making masks, she reached out to Cindy and offered her a mask. But Cindy wasn’t looking for a mask for herself.  She explained her wonderful idea to help medical staff at Yale New Haven and Gaylord Hospitals. She now has available lawn signs to support essential workers. 

For each purchase of a sign, a mask will be donated to Yale New Haven and Gaylord Hospitals. When Chris shared this with Ann, Michaela, Erin and Mae they definitely wanted to help out. Chris’ husband Kurt had a stroke last year and spent a month at Gaylord for rehab and thankfully made a remarkable recovery. Gaylord holds a special place in the families’ heart. They also have friends who work at Yale. In addition, Tom Fedora is the previous owner of Impressions Studio and a dear friend of Cindy Parker Cassella. Cindy actually purchased the studio from Tom when he followed his calling to go back to school and become a nurse. When Cindy called Tom, who now works at Yale, to say she wanted to help out, he told her they were in dire need of masks. For Wallingford resident Tom, who himself took hundreds of family and senior portraits over the years, and would do anything for anyone, he was thrilled to learn of the idea taking shape. The Farrell and Grochowski families are now donating the masks, and Impressions Studio, will use proceeds from the sale of the lawn signs to purchase PPE for Yale and Gaylord Hospitals.

To help out your local community, head to Impressions Studio’s website today to order your lawn sign supporting essential workers. Signs must be picked up at Impressions Studio or Law offices of Farrell & Grochowski. Contactless delivery arrangements will be made.