By L. Parsons Winslow and Holbrook residents are working to contribute to the need for medical masks both for frontline health care workers and fellow residents as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spread. Masks are now recommended for everyone by the Arizona Department of Health (AZDHS) and are in short supply among hospitals and care centers, according to AZDHS Director Dr. Cara Christ. Deidre Burton and Stephanie Lugo of Winslow explained that they saw a need for masks in their town and knew they could help. “I saw a picture of the nursing staff on Facebook of them being provided lunch by Safeway. I thought, I wonder if they have everything they need. I asked around and was told that masks and other PPE (personal protective equipment) was needed for medical personnel,” stated Lugo. Burton added, “I knew the need for masks would be great, that individual sewers would be needed to make enough. It turns out there are dozens of groups doing this all over the country and the world. There is a Masks for Heroes chapter out of Holbrook that has been making hundreds of masks for Northern Arizona Medical workers, yet there is still a need.” The Masks for Heroes group was started by Tammy Gray of Holbrook. She said, “I saw posts from other parts of the country of hospitals asking for masks to be made. I put out there that I would buy and cut fabric if I could get someone to sew them. Before I knew it, people were responding. We now have 282 members in our group.” Masks for Heroes prioritizes medical centers in their efforts and has distributed 2,494 masks to health care workers. “Our mission is hospital workers, so any items or money that is donated goes to that cause. Some sewers are getting masks to police departments and the sheriff’s office using their own materials,” said Gray. They have gotten masks into the hands of facilities countywide including Summit Health Care in Show Low and Little Colorado Medical Center (LCMC) in Winslow. The sewers are able to do what they do thanks to the generosity of the public. Burton noted, “Winslow citizens and friends have donated money, elastic, material and emotional support so that masks can be made.” Lugo agreed and added that she had received a large donation from the Standin’ On the Corner Foundation. None of these seamstresses is taking on this endeavor alone. From donations to time, many community members have contributed to this effort. “I could not have done this by myself,” Burton said. “We started with just three of us and now we are up to seven, so we are able to take on more requests. We have had requests for reusable gowns, scrub hats, pretty much anything that our frontline people normally have in abundance in disposable form.” Burton’s team consists of Alicia Jaramillo, Belinda Tafoya, Deb Webb, Kelly Ottersbach, Imelda Parrish and Carol Gilliam. “I also have a few helpers who are not sewing and Heather Steagall who has been my shop assistant and Amanda Reeves who is the point person, answering emails and helping to organize the operation.” Burton and her team have distributed over 60 masks to LCMC, as well as many more to Winslow residents. Lugo said, “So far, I have made and distributed 390 masks and still have requests for about 200 more. I feel very passionate about helping and since I am not in a ‘front line’ position, this is my way of giving them a little joy and help in this very stressful time.” Burton, Lugo and Gray are offering their services free of charge. They are, however, constantly in need of donations for fabric, elastic and other supplies. To donate to Stephanie Lugo or to request a mask for yourself, email getamask4U@gmail.com. Burton’s contact information is winslowPPEstitchers@gmail.com. She is also accepting donations through Venmo and PayPal with the username WinslowStitcher. Tammy Gray said, “We are more in need of supplies than money, and of course we can always use more helpers.” She can be reached at tammymgray@gmail.com. Burton concluded, “the reality is that every single person needs at least one mask for the next few months. The more masks we get out there, the safer it is for our medical workers, and all of us, until this virus passes.”
