JoAnn Gregoli always thought it was a happy coincidence she was connected to Rosie the Riveter through her son in-law Billy Boska, who is the grandson of Mary Doyle Keefe, who modeled for Norman Rockwell’s iconic 1943 painting. Little did JoAnn know, she herself would become a modern-day Rosie.

JoAnn has two children working on the front lines and learned from her daughter, a physician assistant, that healthcare workers lacked basic personal protective equipment (PPE) and weren’t prepared for the oncoming COVID-19 pandemic. As an international event planner, JoAnn’s first instinct was to start immediately organizing and mobilizing others to help make masks and then transport them to the hospitals where they were most needed. Because PPE is in such short supply, the hand-sewn masks are being used by doctors and nurses treating non-COVID-19 patients and as covers for N95 masks to increase their longevity.

JoAnn shared this GoFundMe page on her local community Facebook group in Sparta, NJ and the movement quickly took off. Her call to action inspired friends including her former client Christine Preston of Madison, NJ, who shared it on her own community pages. In less than a week, the two women had enlisted more than 150 volunteers to sew masks, cut fabric, and donate supplies of all kinds. The movement has spread to other New Jersey towns and now includes cooperatives in Bernardsville, Woodland Park, Morristown, and Harding Township.

MAKING MASKS …

Our front line health workers lack the vital protective gear they need to stay safe while treating the sick. The Front Line Sewing  Angels are a community of volunteers who are making masks and surgical caps to help address this critical need.

We kindly ask for your support to help us purchase supplies for our sewing volunteers, pay seamstresses to produce large orders of masks and surgical caps, and provide snacks and meals for the front line. 

Since March 21, the Front Line Sewing Angels have made more than 8,500 masks and 5,000 scrub caps that have been distributed to more than 30 New Jersey and New York City-area hospitals, medical facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. A full list of these institutions is at the bottom of this page.

ABOUT JOANN GREGOLI

Planning social events was a big part of JoAnn Gregoli’s life upon graduation from college. After receiving her degree in Public Relations, she joined a PR firm where she planned events for many major corporations, as well as private events for corporate clients. By far, one of her most memorable and touching projects was assisting brides who lost wedding venues after the attacks on NYC on 9/11.  With the assistance of The Knot and Brides magazine, she was able to relocate over 200 brides to new venues around the city.

The Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) awarded JoAnn the title of Professional Wedding Planner and she was appointed the New Jersey State Coordinator of ABC. She completed the ABC’s Course and earned the distinction of Master Wedding Planner. She was also appointed the New York Metro Coordinator for the Association. 

Over the years, destination weddings have grown immensely and are more than just a trend. JoAnn has been recognized as a guru in this area. Modern Bride magazine included her as one of their Trendsetters of the Year and she was also recently recognized as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Wedding Planners in the world! JoAnn has the knowledge and contacts to make your dreams a reality.