Local nonprofit working to sew surgical masks amid nationwide shortage

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- A local nonprofit is stepping up to help medical professionals struggling to keep surgical masks in stock due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The founder of Sew Loved in South Bend says she saw a need and is now mobilizing sewers to make the masks from home.

Vicki Miles posted to Sew Loved’s Facebook page about the critical face mask shortage looking for some people who might want to help by sewing from home. She got dozens of responses and volunteers are ready to get to work.

“It’s so out of control i can’t even respond to all the texts or messages!” Miles said.

Miles says Beacon Health has since reached out to her about working together to get the masks to local hospital in urgent need of them.

“Beacon is providing medical grade sheeting so I can prototype, send it back to them and then we can start getting all the supplies in,” Miles said. “I’ve probably got about a hundred sewers who contacted me and said we’re waiting just get us the stuff.”

Miles is still working out the logistics of distributing the surgical material to the volunteers but an ambitious deadline is getting as many masks as possible to local hospitals within the next week.

If you’d like to donate you can buy products from Sew Loved’s Etsy Shop or donate via their Facebook page. Anyone looking to sew surgical masks from home can call 833.756.2757 or email [email protected] for more info.