A project is underway that is asking for citizens in and around Fort Dodge to help sew gowns for Iowa nursing homes in urgent need. Several area organizations have partnered together in the venture including Iowa Prison Industries, Fort Dodge Prison, Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge Community Foundation & United Way Fort Dodge, The City Of Fort Dodge, The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, Unity Point, The City Of Fort Dodge and Webster County. Dan Clark Director Of Iowa Prison Industries reached out to Jim Kersten the VP at Iowa Central to see if the college could help by being a distribution center for the project. Dan Clark says that Fort Dodge Prison has started already cutting the material and has the ability to cut more material than they can sew.

Volunteers who sew can pick up gown material and related supplies at Iowa Central and return the completed gowns. Unity Point Hospital will wash, sanitize and package the gowns then Iowa Prison Industries will transport the gowns to Des Moines for statewide distribution. Here’s Iowa Central President Dr. Dan Kinney on the college’s role in the project.