Betty Anne Jansen, owner of Sew Sewcial, has found creative ways to give back to the community and keep her business a float during the pandemic, including making 1,500 face masks. (Photo by Catherine Sasso)

NORWICH – There are many unknowns when opening a new business. The first few months are critical for establishing a customer base and growing a network. So how does a new business stay a float when just two months after opening, they have to close down due to a global pandemic?

Owner of Sew Sewcial Betty Anne Jansen has kept her quilt shop alive and running by staying heavily involved with the community and finding new ways to keep people interested in her business.

Jansen chose to close her business when the pandemic was at it's peak in the best interest of her customers. She said she was going to use that time to work on her unfinished projects. That's when she was called on by community members for help.

"The owners of the building I rent from, one of their wives works at Norwich Rehab. They asked if I could make face masks," said Jansen. "Since then I've made about 1,500 masks. They have gone to the rehab facility, the Oxford Veterans Home, and UHS Occupational Medicine."

Jansen enlisted the help of her friends and fellow quilters to not just help make masks, but complete other projects that benefit the community.

"I started a group called community quilters. We've been doing Project Linus quilts. We're getting ready to send out our second dozen quilts," said Jansen.