GREENSBORO, N.C. – The numbers are staggering: 175 face coverings made, 200-plus more left.
Jane Long, assistant director of equipment and apparel, has spent the last few weeks making homemade face coverings for UNCG's staff and student-athletes at a pace of over 50 a week as a supplement to those provided by the department and UNC System.
Long starts every day with our campus motto, "Service," on her mind. Whether she's taking care of our Spartan athletes, making reusable face coverings for UNCG Athletics staff and athletes, or sometimes even dressing up as Santa Claus.
With a history of service spanning over 20 years, Long took this opportunity to ask herself, "How can I help my community?" She jumped at the first opportunity to help provide face coverings to her fellow athletics staff and student-athletes.
Long hasn't been alone in her efforts though as members of the staff, including assistant women's soccer coach Stefani Workman, have provided cotton T-shirts for Long to use. A typical small or medium shirt can be used to make at least 6 coverings, if not more, depending on the size.
Although she's been a member of the equipment and apparel staff for 15 years, Long's time at UNCG began even earlier. In 1990, on her way out of coaching basketball, she found herself on the hunt for a way to stay present in the field. A brief conversation with a friend led her to Greensboro for a master's in sports management, a short-lived graduate program here at UNCG.
In 1996, Long was on the lookout for ways to kickstart her community service in the Greensboro area. "I had two dogs of my own. I didn't want to have more dogs, I wanted to help more dogs," she says. Soon after, she jumped feet-first into a local fostering organization before starting her own. Since 1996, she has fostered over 300 dogs alone, and for 20 years she has been Santa Claus for All Pets Considered's "Picture your Pet with Santa Claus."
If you are interested in donating materials to help, contact Michael Ream (maream@uncg.edu) to coordinate.
