Hugedemandformasks
EAST Coast Mask Makers, founded by the local community has delivered over 2,500 free non-surgical cloth masks to the vulnerable within three weeks and has also launched a mobile app.
The initiative was founded over three weeks ago by Sinead O’Riordan and Sinead McGuinness, two pioneering women from Enniskerry.
Since inception, this idea has grown into a community stretching well beyond Wicklow and has inspired new groups to be set up in Sligo and as far away as Marin County in California.
They have now created and dispatched over 2,500 masks to the vulnerable and the ambulance service in Loughlinstown. Many others are being sent to nursing home carers around the country.
They have raised over €2,000 on their GoFundMe page to raise money for more materials and postage.
Their app is available at eastcoastmaskmakers.app. People can volunteer, donate, request masks and collaborate by sharing stories and photos. The app is sponsored by local business owner Lisa Kelly from myapp.ie.
‘We are very fortunate enough to have a local Wicklow biker community, Bravo Charlie Tango collaborate with us and deliver bulk orders on our behalf. Honestly, it really has been an amazing community effort. In addition, our local councillor, Melanie Corrigan has helped spread the word on our behalf. We’ve even had orders from California,’ said Sinead O’Riordan.
The Facebook group is over 300 strong with seamstresses, fabric suppliers and supporters
‘We have been inundated with requests. Luckily we have an amazing bunch of seamstresses stretching from Enniskerry, to Swords, to Meath who are fulfilling these orders,’ said Sinead McGuinness. ‘People are churning out 30/40/50 masks in one day! It’s truly is amazing and inspiring. Not everyone has sewing skills but people just really want to help in some manner, be it to source fabric, or be runners on the ground and deliver/pickup fabric etc. Others want to donate fabric and or a few Euro. The whole movement really has given people at home a sense of worth and purpose. People now have a way to help and are more than delighted to pull out their sewing machines and get cracking.’
Sinead O’Riordan said that the messages they have received from people have been both heart breaking and heart-warming.
‘People are scared. Very scared. People are reaching out to us and telling us their stories and how grateful they are to have this service. It really makes you realise the mammoth task our healthcare providers have.
They are the true heroes here as well as our army of seamstresses who are sewing up a storm as we speak.’
These masks will not completely stop the wearer from transmitting or receiving the virus alone but should provide some additional protection whilst also adhering to regular hand washing and social distancing. To get involved, either by sewing masks or donating materials, email organisers at east-coastmaskmakers@gmail. com, or via the app www.eastcoastmaskmakers.app