An Arizona man who found a safe place to live through Catholic Charities jail re-entry program fulfills his community service requirements by sewing and knitting face masks for donation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael spent seven and a half years in an Arizona prison on a drug conviction when time for his parole arrived, Catholic Charities Community Services reported. A condition of his parole is having a place to live. His sister had reached out to Catholic Charities about their jail re-entry program, which gives people just leaving incarceration a safe, affordable place to live. Case managers help them utilize community resources.

It's almost impossible to promise someone a bed at a facility, but luckily just days before Michael's release a spot opened up at the Ponderosa re-entry house and he was chosen to occupy it.

A condition of Michael's post-release parole was to do 360 hours of community service, Catholic Charities reported. His case manager came up with a plan to put the sewing and knitting skills he learned in prison to work fulfilling the service requirements. At first, Michael was using donated materials to make scarfs and beanies for the homeless. Once the COVID-19 pandemic picked up, he suggested to his case worker that the cold weather gear be put on hold so he could making washable masks for people in need. 

In just a little over a month he's made more than 100 masks and doesn't plan on stopping.