Coronavirus North Fork: Angels Make Masks For Hospital Workers

NORTH FORK, NY — Healthcare workers on the front lines of the new coronavirus, battling what elected officials have called a "war," are exhausted and facing a shortage of necessary personal protective equipment. But on the North Fork, a group of dedicated angels has taken flight to help, working tirelessly to make handmade masks and distribute them to hospitals in need.

Kait's Angels is a not-for-profit organization that was created with a mission of doing good work in honor of Mattituck's Kaitlyn Doorhy, who died tragically at 20 while away at college in 2014.

In the years since Kait's death, Kait's Angels has been a beacon of hope, providing help to those in need in the community through fundraisers and charitable efforts.

And, as the number of coronavirus cases continues to spike in Southold Town — as of Saturday, 206 cases townwide were reported — Kait's Angels have galvanized to help.

"It all started when we read hospitals were running short of supplies," said Darla Doorhy, Kaitlyn's mother. Carolyn McDonald, Doorhy's neighbor, texted patterns to use; Doorhy reached out to other Kait's Angels members who offered to lend a hand.

Here's how it works, in a time of social distancing: Doorhy cuts out patterns and ties and drops them off at McDonald's garage; McDonald then sews the masks, according to the patterns, as do the other volunteers.

Kait's Angels volunteers include Carolyn McDonald, Dorian Warkentien, Melissa Ludlow, Patti Courville, Gail Angel, Cheryl Fortuna, Kerri Fitzgerald, Dena Campbell, Karen Nicholson, Mary and Lucy Hasel — a mother and daughter duo who made masks to donate, too — Kim West, the Italia family, Kim Hallock, Emily Hughes, Janet Heins, Marissa and Donna Danowski, Stacy Moisa, Tailoring by Rosie, Jeanine Warns, Erika Guja, Liz Hudock, Patrice and Rachel Hernandez, Maryann Case from Case’s Place, and the Eastern Long Island Quilters Guild, Doorhy said.

Renee Lisowey of Wallace Home Design Center in Southold also donated bolts of material and elastic, Doorhy said.

The request for masks sparked an outpouring of caring: "This community has really come together," Doorhy said. One Kait's Angels post by Carly Doorhy, Kait's sister, on social media, she said, brought a sea of volunteers together. "People feel the need to help while quarantined," Doorhy said.

Kait's Angels delivered 500 masks to Eastern Long Island Hospital three days ago; another 500 were delivered Saturday and another 1,000 are being sewn.

"It's so important to Kait's Angels to support our front lines," Doorhy said. "God bless our doctors, nurses and all medical staff. We will continue to help you do your job by staying home."

The masks have been brought to those who need them most as Suffolk County and Southold Town continue to face soaring numbers of coronavirus cases and an escalating need for supplies: On Saturday, Suffolk County Steve Bellone said, with a staggering 28 additional deaths reported overnight, bringing the total countywide to 124, and a total of 12,684 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Saturday night — supplies are depleted. "Today, in the county, we are out," he said. "We are down to zero."

Bellone said the county has distributed nearly 1.7 million pieces of PPE to hospitals, nursing homes and first responders; Governor Andrew Cuomo, he said, is doing all he can to secure more supplies.

But, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention urging the public to wear masks when out in public, Bellone said hope is rising through the many individuals who are coming forward to make the masks themselves to share.

"We've had incredible generosity," Bellone said.

This article originally appeared on the North Fork Patch