If you’re looking for ways to contribute during the COVID-19 crisis and know how to sew (or want to learn), making fabric facemasks is one way to help. Melissa, one of our reference assistants, wanted to make a difference while staying home and joined volunteers all over the country in sewing masks to help stop the pandemic. Melissa is making her masks out of old t-shirts and flat elastic hair bands. She recommends finding a tutorial video online to help you get started. There are two types of masks needed, basic fabric masks for personal use or for people still working at essential businesses (grocery stores, utilities, etc.) and masks that have an insert for a filter that may be needed by medical staff if there is a shortage of PPE supplies.
To get involved with sewing masks to donate locally, join the COVID-19 Community Face Mask Initiative group on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/CommunityFaceMaskInitiativePEORIAIL/.
Some hospitals have specific requirements for the donations they’re seeking. UnityPoint Methodist has a pattern available on their website for the type of masks they need, as well as other ways to donate or get involved.
Joann Fabric has launched a program that gives away free fabric, elastic, and other materials so that customers can make facemasks at home to donate to hospitals. An instructional video is also available on the company’s website.
For more information on the effectiveness of DIY masks and materials, check out smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/.
The CDC also has guidelines and instructions for face masks available on its website at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/face-masks.html.