Mask Makers

Their hands and sewing machines are getting a work-out like never before.

In an effort to help prevent spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, several Mills County women have stepped up to make face masks for family, friends, medical personnel and other front-line workers.

“We’re doing it because we want to stay busy since we’re self-isolating and we want to help,” Lyn Thomas said.
For the past several weeks, Thomas has been working on a daily basis with her sister, Sandy Wyszenski, and a friend, Debbie Lundy, to meet a growing demand for masks.

“We knew a lot of people – friends and family – were wanting the masks because of the corona,” Thomas said. “We just decided that we would make them for friends and family and it grew from there.”

The trio, who call themselves Caring Chicks Conquering Corona (CCCC) have made more than 275 masks and have orders for 275 more. Thomas said they don’t charge for the masks, but have accepted material and monetaryy donations from grateful recipients and others who just want to do their part to help, including several fellow graduates from the Glenwood Community High School Class of 1974.

“The support has just been overwhelming,” she said. “We’ve even had classmates who don’t want masks or don’t need them that have donated money, elastic or fabric.”

Each mask takes about 20 minutes to make, Thomas noted, as long as there are no interruptions. The CCCC’s masks come in a variety of colors and designs, ranging from floral and flamingo to Hawkeyes, Cyclones, Kansas City Chiefs and the American flag. The masks have three pleats on the front and are equipped with a pipe cleaner in the nose area to ensure a firm fit.

Thomas said orders are filled according to need.

“If they’re high risk or in the medical field, they automatically get bumped to the top of the list,” she said.

Jen Buckingham is a vocal music teacher at the Glenwood Middle School who’s been spending the free time she’s had lately in front of her sewing machine. She’s made over 700 masks in two months - in a variety of colors and designs.

“I enjoy sewing,” Buckingham said. “My sister sent me an article about a lady making masks. She put the pattern online for free and said, ‘Here’s some ways to do it.’ I kind of started experimenting and figured out what worked and what didn’t work.”

Once Buckingham announced on Facebook she was making masks, she was blitzed with requests from friends, family and former students she had during her previous teaching job in Ralston, Neb. Many of those former students now work in medical facilities. She’s also made masks for local clinics, Glen Haven Village and Trinity Lutheran Church.

“Our church started to hold services again last week so Pastor (Seth) Kaiser asked me to donate some so they would have some on hand when people came to service,” she said.

Buckingham doesn’t charge for her masks, but does accept donations which help defray material and shipping costs.
While there’s been plenty of fabric to meet their needs, mask makers have found it difficult to find one essential piece of material – the elastic needed for ear loops.

“Elastic is the hardest thing to get. You have to be creative,” Buckingham said. “I’ve done quite a few with ties. My dad, for example, has hearing aids and has the loops around his ears, so the ties have worked better for him. I have also found that you can use headbands that are made for little babies. You can use the material they use for that to make little ear loops.”

The majority of masks Buckingham and the CCCC have made are for adults, but they’ve also had a few requests for child sizes.

Both Thomas and Buckingham said the recipients of their masks have been extremely appreciative. Buckingham said it’s gratifying to know the masks are providing protection during the pandemic, but the work is also personally uplifting.

“It’s kind of helped me stay sane through this crazy time,” she said. “It’s very hard to teach vocal music over computer. That’s been frustrating a little bit and we don’t have any spring concerts so that’s been very sad. It’s just given me something else to look forward to and I’m just really happy I can do something when we’re all stuck at home.”