A group of community volunteers have come together to put their sewing skills to good use, providing more than 2,500 hand-made masks to healthcare workers, first responders and more — all for free.
Sewing Love for Our Neighbors began with the idea of neighbors helping neighbors, led by founders Jana Rodriguez of Wellington, Kathy Valentine Dippolito of Lake Worth and Carolyn Hmara of Royal Palm Beach. They have since been joined by approximately 25 volunteers willing to sew and/or cut materials into kits for masks covering a territory from Jupiter to Boynton Beach and everywhere in between.
The group’s mission is to make and donate face masks — sewn with love — to facilities within local communities who do not have enough to go around. The masks are made with donated supplies and will never be sold. While the volunteers understand that homemade masks will never replace N95s, they can be worn over a healthcare-grade mask to extend its life, by those not in direct contact with patients and by those who do not have masks at all.
Currently, Sewing Love for Our Neighbors have provided more than 2,575 masks and has active requests for more than 2,500 additional masks.
Who will receive the masks? All masks will be provided free of charge to local facilities who have requested them — healthcare workers, first responders, organizations serving the public as essential employees and more. Further, the volunteers will donate masks in the style they have requested. Sewing Love for Our Neighbors has a long list of needs and will take them in the order in which they are received.
How can you help? First, you can make a donation of materials. If you would like to donate materials for making masks, comment on the post at this link: www.facebook.com/groups/526612374705586/permalink/528877447812412. One of the administrators will contact you.
They will match your mask donations with the next facility on the list. Any fabric (100 percent cotton), elastic (1/4 inch preferred, 3/8 inch is OK) or thread you have available to donate will be provided to volunteers who are willing to sew but do not have supplies. Donations are greatly appreciated.
Do you know a place that needs masks? Comment on this post: www.facebook.com/groups/526612374705586/permalink/528880127812144. An administrator will contact you to get your facility on the list.
You will be asked for the following information: your name, contact number, name of the facility that needs the masks, location of the facility, style requested, number requested and contact person if it’s someone other than you. The request will be added to the list for when masks become available. Requests are fulfilled in the order in which they are received.
Still have questions? Visit Sewing Love for Our Neighbors on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/526612374705586 and contact the administrators via message or post. They will reply as quickly as they can.
