How to make your own mask, on April 9

SALISBURY and KENT — It is now recommended that everyone wear some form of mask in public to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Professionally made masks are needed for health care professionals and for other workers in essential professions, including restaurant workers who are interfacing with the public.

There are instructions online at the Centers for Disease Control and Protection website for a simple face mask, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-co.... The instructions are for sewn masks and no-sew masks, made with fabrics most people have in their homes, including T-shirts and bandanas.

A more stylish and advanced face mask is now being made by a team of about 175 Northwest Corner volunteers, mainly in Salisbury and Kent. The epicenter of this effort is Lakeville Interiors, led by sisters Ashley Marchand and Courtney Saulnier. These masks were designed with input from medical professionals and they are being sent to hospitals and health care organizations such as Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association.

In an email sent out on Monday, April 6, they said they have been inundated with requests from individuals to purchase the masks.

As a result, they said, they plan to,“1. Post on Facebook and other social media a free #SewYourOwn guide, which will include our pattern, two videos for how to cut/sew the mask, and written instructions.

“We will also host a Zoom tutorial on Thursday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. to answer any questions. Here is the link: https://zoom.us/j/594325834

“2. Hire two of our employees, using our company’s resources — NOT any of the donated funds or materials — to sew masks that will be offered for sale at a price that covers the cost of materials, employee salary and overhead. We are still organizing this, but will have a price soon. Requests can be sent to info@lakevilleinteriors.com.

“3. Other than the one day we are taking to sew masks for our family and friends, we ourselves will continue to dedicate 100% of our sewing efforts to produce the masks that we are donating to those working on the front lines of this pandemic.”

Donations are also welcome to help with their mask-making efforts; and volunteers are needed, for a variety of tasks including but not limited to sewing. Sign up online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnV8XM9NoSsA1do43qNNVMnHNHo7yF....

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