Grassroots group meets demand for masks

When Joyce Battist heard about a grassroot effort to make facemasks in Pictou County, she set a personal goal for herself.

“I looked at the pattern and I thought, ‘I live in a seniors complex and there's 32 units here. I should just make these and give one to each household.'”

Battist, who lives on Westville Road, has already accomplished that goal and more. As of Wednesday she had completed 57 masks and has no plans to stop.

The group she's part of is called United We Stand Pictou County. It's a Facebook group that was the brainchild of Jonathon Mackay and became reality with the support of friends both in Pictou County and in other parts of Canada using the best information they could find from around the world on creating an effective mask with materials mostly found at home.

While many of those sewing masks are doing so for neighbours, family and friends, Mackay said thanks to Battist they also connected with a doctor's office that is using their masks for patients who come for an appointment. Now they're reaching out to others like food bank volunteers to offer them some to wear when doing deliveries.

The main goal of these masks is to provide a level of protection for the community while alleviating the demand for commercial masks that should be going to frontline health care workers.

Mackay said they have more than 400 members in the group, which he said is remarkable considering it started less than a month ago.

While not everyone is a sewer, all are doing what they can to help make the project a success, from marketing the idea and creating promotional videos to finding the best pattern and educating people on the proper use of masks.

Some who don't feel comfortable sewing, are donating material they may have in their homes, while those with 3-D printers have printed the pattern to speed up the process of those tracing it.

The idea has gained traction not only locally, but has actually spread through Mackay's contacts. Last week a chapter of the group launched in Edmonton and now one is in the works in South Africa.

“One of my classmates from my post grad saw what we were doing on Facebook and he thought it was a pretty good idea,” Mackay said of the South African group.

As a result, he said a lot of their material could be translated into other languages.

“It seems a little surreal,” Mackay said. “There are some days I wake up and think ‘What have we done?'”

The group isn't stopping either, with spin off projects looking at making face shields and growing victory gardens now in the works.

While there have been some growing pains along the way, Mackay said it seems that as problems show up, answers come along with them.

Yvette Poirier of Pictou said she actually had an interest in sewing masks early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, but didn't know how to formally go about it.

“It doesn't replace the medical grade masks, but there is an absolute a need for them in the community,” she said.

Through MLA Karla Macfarlane's

office she was connected with Mackay. Soon after, she was sewing and helping with the organizational side of the group.

“The first three masks were frustrating, but then once you get used to it and get your own process and rhythm,” she said.

She said it's a great feeling to know you're helping address a problem.

“I know for me I was at the point I could have been crippled by what I was seeing in the news. When people are hurting I want to be there.”

Because of this group, she feels a sense of purpose.

Carol Houston is another

Pictou County resident helping out by sewing. She's already made masks for family and friends.

“Right now I'm making masks to send to my friend in New Brunswick.”

Houston has had previous experience sewing to meet needs. When she and her husband lived in Bermuda, she picked up sewing so she could make quilts to give to nursing homes. In Pictou County, she's sewn quilt tops to be used for Tearman House, a women's shelter.

“It keeps me busy and it feels good to do something to benefit other people,” she said.

One great part of having the Facebook group is they've been able to set up a place for sewers to share tips on making the process smoother or alternate ways to make it easier.

Houston has found she's so busy, she's actually on her phone and ipad less than she was before isolation, often only coming up for meals when her kids remind her they're hungry.

“It feels good to be able to do something productive,” she said.

She encourages others who might be interested in sewing or just have material or other supplies they can donate to reach out to Mackay through the United We Stand Pictou County Facebook page.

“Many hands make light work.”

Claire Wilson sews a mask.