Former carer turns her hand to mask-making
A former carer was so shocked by the price of face masks for sale online she set to work making some herself.
Cecelia Lock, 52, was further inspired to put her sewing machine to good use after hearing key workers, especially NHS staff treating COVID-19 patients, were lacking personal protective equipment.
She said: ‘I went online to buy a mask for myself and was horrified at how expensive they were.’
Cecelia’s masks are made using specially-bought material. ‘I wouldn’t recommend recycling material for something like this,’ she said. ‘When I get the material, I boil wash it, then I make the masks with a mask on myself.
‘The masks are not necessarily to stop people catching the virus. They are to prevent them from breathing it on someone else.’
Cecelia's masks are free to all key workers but she said many have insisted on paying for them. Non-key workers can buy them for £2.50 each.
‘That is just to cover costs,’ Cecelia added. ‘There is no profit whatsoever.
‘Before this I had never made a mask. I used to make patchwork quilts, but I’ve got complex mental health problems and limited mobility, so it can be difficult.
‘I’m in the vulnerable group because I have other underlying health issues.’
Cecelia has not kept count of how many masks she has made but estimates it could be in the couple of hundreds.
Despite the challenges she faces, Cecelia has said she will keep making masks as long as there is demand for them and she can afford to.
‘Because I am in the shielding group, I get free weekly food deliveries, and it’s only thanks to this I can continue making free masks,’ she said. ‘Ross Campbell from Campbell’s Carpets donated £150 for material so that helped tremendously and there is the odd person who purchases a mask who makes a small donation on top of the cost which has also helped.’
When orders are ready, masks can be collected from Cecelia’s Kirk Street home.
She said: ‘People come to my living room window and give it a wee tap. I open it a little bit and pass the mask out. I can’t deliver them because that would put me at too much risk.’
Cecelia said she has had excellent feedback from those who have received her masks, adding: ‘People have been really fantastic. I want to thank everyone who has helped me keep going and a big thank you to Ross Campbell at Campbell's Carpets.’
Anyone wishing to order a mask should contact Cecelia via her Facebook page.