Early in August, a group of 45 volunteers reached the milestone of making their 2,000th mask. The Mask Creator Volunteers, led by Doris Zelinsky, Linda Schultz, Trish Loving and Sarah Moskowitz (volunteer coordinator at The Towers at Tower One/Tower East) from the Greater New Haven Jewish community, sew pocket masks made from quilt-weight, 100% cotton fabric.
Their masks have been donated throughout the community to residents and staff of The Towers, Jewish Family Service, frontline workers (such as police departments, fire departments, EMTs, parks and recreation employees, public works, and refuse workers), and others. Their work has earned recognition from State Representatives Robin Comey and Themis Klarides.
“And the need continues,” Zelinsky notes. “We make 100 to 125 per week and will continue until we don’t need to wear them anymore.” Volunteers cut, wash and iron the fabric. A pocket allows the insertion of a surgical mask, paper towel, or coffee filter. They are blessed with donations to buy fabric and thread to reach 5,000 masks, Zelinsky says. The Mask Creators hope to find additional experienced sewers for their operation.
“If you would like to help us by sewing in your home on your sewing machine, we will give you everything, including the thread,” Zelinsky states. “We will deliver and pick up. We just need your time and skill.”
Contact Doris.Zelinsky@gmail.com for more information on helping out.
Linda Schultz at her sewing machine Branford firefighters wearing Mask Creator masks