Creating Free Masks for Medical Workers
As the daughter of a fashion designer, Masha has been surrounded by fabrics and patterns for as long as she can remember. Masha learned to sew as a child growing up in the 90’s in Moldova, which was part of the USSR. At five-years-old she designed her first outfit for her doll, Alla. At twelve, she was designing her outfits for herself to wear. When she was fifteen, her first sportswear collection hit the runway.
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There are thousands of mask requests filtering through Hope for Tampa’s website. Hundreds of community members have committed to providing masks to organizations throughout Florida. However, the masks needed to protect the area’s essential employees grossly outnumbers the number of masks being produced. As the country finds more ways to produce N95 masks, fabric masks makers are creating protective gear to help them last longer. Creating a system where each person’s contribution is an essential part of its success, families, friends, and children are coming together to fulfill our country’s needs.
Meet Tylynn, one of the minors helping fulfill the needs of our community. Tylynn is a seven-year-old, self-proclaimed fashion designer, using her skills to help protect our community. When asked, why do you want to help make masks? she responded, “I like helping make masks so the homeless people and the other people can stay safe and not get the Coronavirus.” She is truly setting the tone of selfless service for minors everywhere. Her dedication to helping heal our community is invaluable. After completing her first mask, she was filled with pride. Tylynn said, “I love making things that help people.”
Involving your child in mask making is good for them. How? Check out 3 benefits of masks making for children to learn how making masks can benefit your child. Use this unique opportunity to help your child learn a new skill while giving back to those in need. This is such a unique time in our country’s history. The lessons we’re learning are those of strength, resilience, and camaraderie.
Here are a few ways your child can help with mask-making:
Not only is the need for more masks a struggle to meet, but the need for child-size masks is growing as well. Children are just as susceptible as adults to contracting the Coronavirus and without the proper protection and medical intervention, children can suffer grave consequences. They are in this fight along with us. Since the initial outbreak of Covid-19 in America, nearly half a million people have contracted the disease. Of that, over 18 thousand have died. The CDC has recommended everyone use face coverings to help slow the spread of this disease. Tip: Children under the age of two should not wear a mask as it may restrict their breathing.
If you or someone you know is making masks, please reach out to Hope for Tampa. They can help get your masks into the hands of medical professionals who desperately need them. There are opportunities for you to show your patriotism through acts of service. Right now, our country needs us and we need each other.
Judy works as a freelance writer, producing content for major brands like Kraft-Heinz and Nabisco. She always jokes that her work is feast or famine—there’s either plenty to do or none at all. The week before this Masks for Medical Workers in Tampa Bay project began, there was no work on her online platform. She was waking up every day, walking into her craft room, and working on her Quilt Block of the Month project. She felt aimless. There was a major crisis going on, and there was nothing she could safely do to help.
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Cathy served in the Army for 30 years. She is glad to be back as a part of a team mobilized to meet a challenge. She joined Masks for Tampa Bay Workers because she’d heard about the need for masks and she knew Hope personally. Cathy loves feeling like she can make a difference, even if it’s only to a few people. She also loves doing something to connect to others during this time when she feels isolated and apart.
Continue reading “Meet Cathy!”Shelly Ann has always been drawn to arts and crafts. Her mother had a sewing room, and taught her to sew when she was around eight years old. Shelly still fondly remembers sewing a handmade doll for a school book project on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Now, she loves millinery—making hats and hair accessories.
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