Several Decorah residents are leading a campaign to create face coverings for area priests

Retired Decorah resident Father Daniel Knipper and Decorah seamstress Julie Vulk have created a campaign to protect Northeast Iowa Catholic clergy and the people they serve from COVID-19 by making masks for every priest and seminarian.

The two Decorah residents contacted Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women president Florine Swanson, who recruited organization members from across the archdiocese for the project.