GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — Sewing isn't a hobby most teenagers want to take up, but that's exactly how two Gadsden County teenagers are spending their free time.
The hum of a sewing machine is becoming a regular background noise in the Cooksey house.
"It started when my aunt called and asked if we could make a mask for my uncle," said Heather Cooksey.
That's when Heather Cooksey and her 12-year old daughter, Sydney Carroll, dusted off the sewing machine and got to work.
"It just went from there," Cooksey said. "We had a flood of requests for them."
"They needed some more help," said Braxton.
With a growing demand, Cooksey's 14-year old son asked his sister to teach him how to sew too.
"It was pretty easy," said Braxton Carroll.
Now, the kitchen table has transformed into their mask-making factory.
"My favorite part is the sewing and ironing," Sydney Carroll said.
Cooksey says she's using this as an opportunity to teach her children the value of giving back.
"I have always been someone who's about community service, and we've always wanted to teach our kids to serve others," said Cooksey. "It's very important."
"She's always trying to save the world," Carl Cooksey, her husband, said. "One person at a time."
That's also why the family is giving those masks out for free.
"In a time of crisis," Cooksey said, "you shouldn't profit from the situation."
Her kids say the best part of it all is knowing they're doing good.
"It feels good to accomplish something in hopes that the person stays safe," said Braxton Carroll.
This experience has also been a chance for the family to bond, with every family member taking on a roll.
The family is now making masks for the staff at their doctor's office to wear after hours.
