VERO BEACH FL/APRIL 2020 – Local Realtor® Jennifer Bailey is known throughout the real estate community as a ball of fire with almost super-human energy. Now she’s using her super power to help others, and she’s brought her family right along with her.
When Bailey, who works for Dale Sorensen Real Estate, started hearing the cries for masks, she decided to put her sewing skills to use. Teaming up with her daughter, Felicia, and husband Steve, the family began designing and making masks and had sewn 315 as of April 20. “Felicia tried to sew one of her fingers (she’s going to be fine), I’ve broken all my nails, have loads of new cuts and calluses, my thumb has a dent from the scissors and Steve who is the paracord cutter/burner/threader has burnt his fingers a bit…. but…. it’s worth every bit of it for all of us,” Bailey said with her typical humor. “We are going to keep at it until we don’t need them anymore.”
Because Bailey and her family really wanted to do something to help the community, she decided not to charge for the masks. However, Bailey felt that they could have a double impact on the community by instead asking the people that get one to make a donation to the American Cancer Society, a cause near and dear to her heart. So far, they’ve raised over $1,000! “People in our community are very generous and happy to give to such a deserving organization. Of course, we will donate masks to anyone even if they cannot afford to donate.”
That wasn’t the only project consuming this family’s life though. Felicia and longtime fiancé, Gregory Cerna, were due to be married on April 18. Due to the quarantine, the couple has had to postpone the planned celebration with friends and family, instead having an intimate ceremony at home. “COViD-19 has forced them to postpone the big event until June, but they still wanted to have their day that they’ve planned for so long. They will have a full ceremony and reception when it’s safe to be in crowds again.”
The Bailey family is going to continue to make the masks and donate the proceeds but getting supplies is proving to be difficult. “We have been through 1000 feet of cord so far. Thread, fabric, elastic, cord, ribbon, everything is very hard to get now. We are back ordered on supplies, but we are not giving up.”
Bailey has been with Dale Sorensen Real Estate for more than a decade. She is a licensed Florida Realtor® and the firm’s IT manager.