Local craft group donates 4,000 face masks to Atrium Health. Here’s how you can help.
Atrium Health announced Monday it will begin accepting donations of sewn fabric face masks, and one group of crafters already has stepped up to help — with over 4,000 masks donated in the first day.
A group that started with six Lancaster, S.C., seamstresses has now ramped up mask production to 700 volunteers in three states, according to Atrium employee Kathleen Sharp.
Sharp, who lives in the same Lancaster neighborhood as the craft group members, connected Atrium and the crafters, known as Tree Tops Needlecrafters, with the idea to sew face masks.
“This is not limited to professional seamstresses to be able to contribute to this,” Sharp said. “We have a number of people that either haven’t sewn in a while or they’re relatively new to sewing.”
The Tree Tops Needlecrafters created a pattern for sewn face masks in coordination with Atrium Health’s experts.
Preparing for patient surge
Right now, the hospital system has enough face masks, Atrium doctor Anupama Neelakanta said Tuesday.
But she said the system is preparing for a potential surge of patients and could see a shortage in personal protective equipment like masks.
The masks initially will be used for patients with flu-like symptoms, according to Atrium. The hand-sewn masks could be used for healthcare providers as a last resort, Neelakanta said.
And Atrium also plans to re-distribute some masks to community organizations in need, like homeless shelters and nursing facilities, Sharp said. Distribution will begin next week.
“We anticipate the vast majority of these will be out in the community, other than the safety stock that we hold as a fail-safe,” Sharp said.
The sewn fabric masks aren’t as effective as manufactured masks for healthcare providers, but are adequate to help prevent the spread of illness from an infected patient, Neelakanta said. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say hand-sewn fabric masks can be used by physicians in a shortage, she said.
The mask patterns have been posted online, including an adult version and a pediatric one.
The mask patterns developed by Atrium and the Tree Tops Needlecrafters have pockets for additional filter inserts, if needed, Sharp said.
The masks are sanitized through the hospitals laundry service before use, Sharp said.
How to help
Community groups in need of masks, or anyone who wants to volunteer, should email communitybenefits@atriumhealth.org.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued a “stay at home” order that went into effect Monday. Mecklenburg has been under a similar order since Thursday.
Neelakanta said people need to take the stay at home order seriously to help doctors conserve protective equipment — to help “flatten the curve” so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed by a surge in patients.
“This is where the public can really help,” she said. “In engaging in social distancing to make sure that we try to flatten that curve over the coming weeks.”
