A group of Okotoks residents are creating free fabric face masks for others in the Foothills.

Masked Mamas is a group of nine volunteers who are sewing cloth masks at no charge to residents with priority given to essential workers and high risk individuals.

In the 11 days since the group formed, they have had 422 masks requested with 309 of those requests already filled.

Anastasiya Shapka, Founder of Masked Mamas, is a nurse and on the few occasions she's ventured out in town, she says she's seen many people incorrectly using medical equipment such as the N95 masks, so, she came up with the idea for the initiative.

"It just hurts me because I know that the frontline staff are needing it, so I thought 'can we do something so people have masks they can use so they're not using the medical grade equipment that's needed at the hospitals, the vet clinics, the dental offices, all of those places," she explains. "And, when the reports came out from Dr. Tam (Chief Public Health Officer of Canada) that she is now open to and sometimes recommending face masks that are homemade, I thought 'well, let's see if we can get some made'."

She put a call out on a local Facebook page looking for others to join and from there others volunteered and worked to spread the word.

According to Shapka, they recently sent out a number of masks to a seniors facility in Vulcan and are seeing a high demand for masks in High River.

There are adult and kids sizes and two different patterns with variations of each pattern. Materials being used are 100 per cent non-stretch cotton, quilting cotton, cotton pillow cases, wire for the nose pieces, t-shirts to use for ties, 1/4 inch elastic for the ear pieces.

Examples of the two different styles of face masks offered by Masked Mamas. (Photo Courtesy: Anastasiya Shapka)

To care for the masks, they can be put in the washing machine on a hot water cycle to disinfect them then hung to air dry.

One of the volunteers is currently coordinating masks to the appropriate requests and organizing them for no-contact pickups, four to five others are busy washing, cutting, and sorting fabric, while others are out performing deliveries.

Shapka says the teamwork to help keep up with the requests has been incredible.

"Hearing the stories of how this changes people's lives right now it just warms your heart and restores your faith. People are dropping off donations to the food bank if they can, or material, and coming together. Everybody is saying 'I would like a mask but I will drive somebody else's mask out', so you see people just coming together supporting each other and it makes you feel safe, warm, and happy. It's the antidote to what's happening in the world for me."

The group is also accepting donations for the Okotoks Food Bank and so far has collected approximately $650 for the organization.

Shapka says none of the volunteers have met in person due to health guidelines around the pandemic but they have communicated via video chat.

Those interested in donating materials, volunteering, or looking to request a face mask can message the Masked Mamas on Facebook or email anashapka1@gmail.com.

 

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