By Leighton Klevana

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to shortages of everything, from toilet paper to hair dye, but medical supplies are especially low in stock. With nearly 1 million active doctors in the United States, there is a need for protective gear for all of them. And as extra precautions are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, more than just doctors are using personal protective equipment (PPE).

The CDC has recommended all Americans to wear masks whenever in public, while still maintaining social distancing rules. Masks and respirators can keep a person’s mouth and nose covered and keep out any cough or sneeze droplets. As expected, this extra demand for facemasks has led to a global shortage of masks. Producers of higher quality N95 masks, like the company 3M, can’t keep up with demand. With no protective gear available, doctors and all those coming into contact with the virus are making a dangerous choice. They can either work unprotected or not work at all. 

With dire circumstances, doctors and nurses have had to reuse masks. The act of using a single use mask more than once lowers the effectiveness of the masks. But without more masks, doctors have little ability to find new and safe masks. 

However, many Americans are seeing this shortage and its dangerous effects and are finding ways to stop it. At home, mask-making has become one of the many ways that Americans are using their now endless free time to help in the nationwide virus response. 

With 42 states under “shelter in place” orders, thousands of Americans are finding ways to help out, whether it be at a hospital, donating to a worthy cause, or sewing face masks. 

My mother Chandler Klevana (‘91), who works part-time as a nurse at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, has taken up sewing masks in her spare time. With a recent knee injury, she became unable to help at the hospital. Seeing news stories regarding at-home mask making a few weeks ago, she, alongside her friend and fellow Collegiate parent Lisa Brennan, created a local mask-making mission. 

First, the duo reached out to nearly every friend they had in search of cloth to use for the masks. Within a week, our dining room table was engulfed with a sea of old sheets, tee shirts, rolls of fabric, and other swaths of cloth. 

Secondly, they needed to create a way to keep the mask securely on faces. Elastic is the logical option, but unfortunately it has been hard to acquire, so they decided to use four cloth straps that could be tied on the back of the head. It’s a perfect fit. 

Finally, they have to sew the masks and put a special filter, called an interface, inside. The special material filters out unwanted particles passing through the masks. Altogether, the process takes multiple hours.  

Once the masks are all finished, my mother delivers them to doctors, nurses, and friends all over the Richmond area. So far my mother and her friends have made just under two hundred masks. And as my mother says, “They don’t plan on stopping until supplies run out!”

Many others within the Collegiate community are also crafting up masks. Collegiate parent and groundskeeping and facilities staff member Robyn Hartley has been keeping busy by making masks too. She says she spends most nights in her craft room making the masks. Hartley has said that the process has been “fun” and “memorable.” So far, she has made fifty masks and hopes to make many more. She has given them to her neighbors and family members. In return, she’s also gotten some creative gifts, like toilet paper!

Hartley says, “When this is all over, I hope we can look back at this time in our lives and have mostly good memories. And I want to look back and feel like I spent my time well, in my yard, learning new things, nurturing my family, and helping others.” Her masks and positive attitude are sure to help during this uncertain time.

Featured image courtesy of The Columbus Telegram.