A Peoria-area grassroots collaborative is churning out thousands of homemade masks for healthcare workers.
Heather Hollaway is one of the organizers of the COVID-19 Community Face Mask Initiative. She said both OSF and UnityPoint have instructions for making the specific masks their employees need.
Hollaway said sewing is required, but there is help available for beginners who want to pitch in.
"We do have templates out, and we do have videos that people can follow along. So it's a pretty easy process. We try to make it as easy as possible, so those people who want to get involved, who are motivated, can just get started," Hollaway said.
And even if you can't sew, there's still ways to contribute.
"If you are someone who has fabric lying around at home and you say, you know, I can't sew, but I've a few extra bedsheets in my house that are clean that I'd love to donate, we're interested in people donating those," said Hollaway. "If you're someone who's at home and you've got a 3D printer or a laser cutter, we've got ways that you can help as well."
Hollaway said there are currently more than a hundred people sewing masks for essential health workers. OSF has drop off locations at the Franciscan Prairie Building, 5901 W. War Memorial Dr. in Peoria, and the OSF Center for Health, 435 Maxine Dr. in Morton. UnityPoint's drop-off location is at the Hult Center for Healthy Living, 5215 N. Knoxville Ave. in Peoria. Both hospitals ask for masks to be sealed in zip-lock bags with the number of masks written on the outside. Click here to learn more about the Community Face Mask Initiative, or to join. We’re living in unprecedented times when information changes by the minute. WCBU will continue to be here for you, keeping you up-to-date with the live, local and trusted news you need. Help ensure WCBU can continue with its in-depth and comprehensive COVID-19 coverage as the situation evolves by making a contribution.
