INFO for Making Masks (sewers, other volunteers), Donating Fabric and Ordering Masks (health care setting requests)

Working with the Kingfield Boomerang Bag group and Sarah Linnes-Robinson, Felicity Britton with Boomerang  Bags Mpls has created a google form for clinics and health care facilities to directly request face masks. The address of the form is : bit.ly/MasksforHealthClinics
 Please share it with clinics you know and hopefully this will help streamline their requests, and allow us to get their requests filled more efficiently than all of us driving there with 5-10 masks.
 
If you have completed masks and need a volunteer to pick them up please email felicitybritton@gmail.com with the following information:
  1. your name
  2. your address
  3. When they will be left out for pickup (pickups can happen between noon-4 PM each day but may be told to wait until there are more in your specific neighborhood)
  4. Exactly where you will leave the masks for pickup. Please put Masks in a plastic bag and write in Sharpie on the bag the number of masks.
 If you need fabric to make masks please email felicitybritton@gmail.com:
  1. Your name
  2. Your address
  3. The approximate number of masks you can complete in 1 week (so we leave enough fabric)
  4. If you need elastic (please note, many designs are preferring that you use ties rather than elastic)
  5. Where we can leave the fabric (front stop, mailbox???)
 If you cannot make masks at this time but have 100% cotton fabric to donate (especially flannel, and other tightly woven cotton materials and/or elastic) please also contact felicitybritton@gmail.com with:
  1. your name
  2. your address
  3. Exactly where you will leave the fabric and which day 
 
Some people have offered to cut fabric so the sewers can concentrate on sewing. Let felicitybritton@gmail.com know if you'd like pre-cut pieces and she can connect you with them directly so you can liaise together. 

If you are a sewist (or cutter) and have completed items to pick up, or need to request supplies, or have supplies to donate please use this form. It puts it in a nice spreadsheet for Sarah and Felicity so we can keep track of requests.
 
Clinics can request masks here: bit.ly/MasksforHealthClinics
We already have almost 700 mask requests, so every mask counts!!
 
TIPS - 
  • DIY masks are not a replacement for N95
  • Wash all fabric on hot and dry hot before cutting/using. 
  • use different colored cloth for front and back so users know what side has been outward facing. 
  • Wire - floral wire, twist ties, unfolded paper clips, jewelry wire can call all be used if you use wire. 

PATTERNS
U of MN facemask with filter pocket instructions (pattern attached) and wire. Some say better than the North Memorial pattern. 
https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/diy-face-masks-during-covid-19
 
Rectangular surgical style masks Blue Cross Blue shield/Deaconess pattern and video:
https://www.sewgoodgoods.org/face-mask-covid-19
 
Face mask using surgical wrap (we're working on getting some of this; don't have any yet)
https://anest.ufl.edu/clinical-divisions/mask-alternative/
 
Here are some of the responses from people requesting masks:
 
Thank you so much for your time and effort!  The Surgeons of Twin Cities Spine Center and all our staff are truly grateful of your talents and generous gift of masks!
We will put these to great use!
 
Terry K Mitchell, Chief Operating Officer

Felicity,
 
Could you please share with your activists our deep and sincere gratitude?  This means SO much.
 
Jayne
 
Jayne Quinlan
Director of Community Services
Safe House, Afton Place, and Hovander House