Local organizers develop face mask initiative

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Organizers of a Birmingham-wide effort to create free face masks for hospital use have created the website Bham Face Masks which allows volunteers to sign up, obtain fabric, create and deliver personal protective equipment (PPE) face masks for healthcare-related uses. 

Area hospitals and health care providers are also using the website to request face masks for their local health care workers.

The site was created as a way to centralize efforts to create masks, provide health care locations with a way to request them, and coordinate a structured drop off to ensure that COVID-19 related social distancing and face mask processing takes place appropriately.

Birmingham based Christine McLean, owner of The Red Pincushion, and Kathy Green, owner of Pucker Powder, have joined forces with numerous volunteers, locations and healthcare providers to streamline the tremendous outpouring of support during these unprecedented times.  

“We are grateful to provide this service to those who are putting their lives on the frontline every day,” says McLean. “For example, as of 10 a.m. today, we had requests for 5,354 masks and thanks to our volunteers across this area, we will have provided more than 3,000 of those orders and we aren’t stopping.”

McLean adds that the masks are intended to be used in low-risk scenarios to save N95 and other high-level PPE masks for use with COVID-19 and other droplet precaution patients. Only a few trained volunteers handle the mask processing to ensure that health regulations are followed appropriately.

The website also offers patterns and information on how to make a cotton mask with elastic or ties and a pocket for a filter, along with a video demonstrating the step-by-step instructions. Currently more than 500 volunteers are signed up.

Drop off locations include:

  • The Summit/AMC Theaters: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10-11 a.m. 
  • Brookwood Mall/Macy’s Parking: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 3-4 p.m. 
  • Bibb and Tucker Sew-Op: Monday-Friday from 10-11 a.m. (4915 5th Ave S, Birmingham)
  • JoAnn Fabric in Hoover: Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (1709 Montgomery Hwy. South, Hoover)
  • UAB masks only: A 24-hour drop off is located in the parking lot of the former Whistling Table restaurant in Forest Park (3916 Clairmont Ave, Birmingham)

During drop offs, bins will be located 15 feet from volunteers' vehicles, and there is only one person at a time out of vehicles. Drop the bag of masks into the bin and notify the volunteer how many masks are being dropped off. 

Regular updates and information can be found on the groups Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/BhamFaceMasks. 

McLean said there has been a beautiful response to their effort. 

“So many people have come together to offer their services—JOANN Fabric is donating fabric, volunteers across this area who can’t sew have volunteered to cut. Hospital and nephrology center representatives are telling us how much they appreciate our efforts, and we are honored to be of assistance during this time of uncertainty.”