VIGO CO., Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The pandemic has called for a great need in things we wouldn’t expect, like face masks.
But, it’s helped pull communities together in great ways.
A local initiative called Mask Makers Wabash Valley has pulled together people who sew to help make masks for the public.
Coordinator Casey Brown says the demand is high, but the group is happy to help.
“We’ve given out almost 300 masks,” Brown said.
A local grassroots effort started just over a week ago has already provided comfort to many organizations in the form of cloth face masks.
“Something’s better than nothing and it’s really about keeping you from sharing it with everyone else, if you have it and aren’t showing symptoms yet,” Brown said.
Brown says her mom and aunt were sewing masks already.
“If they are willing to sew, I should do my part.”
Brown does not sew masks, but she does practice social distancing picking them up from sewers who don’t want to leave their homes. She also deliveries them to the public, leaving them on the porches or in mailboxes.
The group sent a message through Vigo County Mutual Aid‘s social media page to determine the need in the community.
“Instantly we got way more than we could fulfill.”
Casey Brown talks about the agencies Mask Makers Wabash Valley has helped
So the group started recruiting more sewers. Now they have 15 and are able to help multiple organizations. Places like the Vigo County Jail, local nursing homes, Union Hospital, several grocery stores have all taken up the free offer for cloth masks.
Casey Brown talks about the group’s effort to recruit more helpers
“I can’t really say how proud I am of this community and people who always, always step up and it’s always so heartwarming,” Vigo County sheriff John Plasse said.
Plasse says his facility is running low on their PPE. The donation from mask makers will help both jail staff and inmates.
“To have it here readily now when we’re at almost our greatest need is really awesome. Again it’s an example of people in this community”
We already know, demand for masks is high, the expectation from this group’s yield is no different.
“We have about 1200 needed on our list and every day we’re getting more and more orders,” Brown said.
Brown says she’s blown away to see the work done at the free will of the sewers and people in the community who help Mask Makers Wabash Valley.
It has really been a blessing in my life to be a part of it.”
Brown says that the group does appreciate donations. It helps them to buy fabric for the masks because they are not charging organizations.
Casey Brown talks about the group’s free service to public
She also says the group plans to assist individuals in their need for masks and that they’ll offer that when they are able to produce on an individual level.
Mask Makers Wabash Valley has also donated to one of the Hamilton Center’s facilities. CEO of Hamilton Center, Melvin Burks says the facility has also seen generosity from community members in producing hundreds of masks for the facility.
Melvin Burks, Hamilton Center CEO, has seen cloth mask donations in the hundreds to his facility
Burks says Margie and Maggie Myers locally have produce close to 500 masks for the facility and they also have more coming in from a woman in New York.
Hamilton Center employs 600 people around the Wabash Valley in 11 counties. Burks says the facility is trying to limit how many employees come into work and that around 400 employees are working remotely.
Mask Makers Wabash Valley has its own website and Facebook page.
