We are not going to pretend for a second that the outrageous shortages of medical grade PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) face masks, face shields, gowns, etc.) is okay. The CDC is now recommending that doctors use bandanas. Many people in our community have reached out to see if there is something we can do. And there is. Introducing: Masks for Humanity.
Masks for Humanity is the hub for people who need handmade face masks and other handmade PPE and people who can make handmade face masks and other handmade PPE.
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Here’s how it works:
CONNECTORS/EVERYONE: That’s all of us! Share this project widely. Call, email, skype, write friends and family on the frontlines and see if they need to request homemade masks or other crafted PPE. Contact all sewers you know to get involved and also sign up for updates. If you see an article about a group making handmade masks, reach out to them and see if they want to be shared on Masks for Humanity. The more people who know, the more people we can help. Follow us, share us, and all that good stuff on: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (#mask4humanity and @masks4humanity on all social media). I sent this email to my family.
FRONTLINERS: Healthcare workers, shelters, first responders, grocery clerks, delivery groups, etc. can easily request handmade masks by pattern and number per batch.
MAKERS: Individual crafters can make handmade face masks and other items that frontline organizations specifically want. Makers’ great intentions to help are a help. Because specific patterns and numbers per package are listed on the requests, makers can decide which requests fit their skills and supplies. (If you know a maker who is uncomfortable making masks, but happy to make gowns, this is the place for them). Makers can also learn about other maker-groups who want to help and may already be local to them, and find other information like legitimate sources to donate any medical grade PPE their friends, family or neighbors may have.
MAKER-GROUPS: Groups are popping up across the country making all sorts of handmade PPE, and they can be hard to find. Masks for Humanity is a place to amplify their work so we can all know what they are doing and jump in.
CRAFT SUPPLIERS (coming soon): Businesses are hurting and many are ready to send you the supplies you need. We want to make it easier for everyone to find one another.
In the first day of going live, Masks4humanity.org received over 175,000 handmade face mask requests. The need is scarily real.
And while I ask this amazing community to work on masks, I also ask that we continue to work on Welcome Blankets (resettlement agencies have been in touch with us— I will send out more info in another post soon). There is so much love and caring that is needed, and so much love and caring here to offer.
Take good care,
Jayna
