Million Mask Mayday - Sewing Volunteer

We are welcoming fabric masks from our community to help medical staff during COVID-19, in response to the mask shortage. Orders for standard/disposable masks are on long back-orders, due to both demand and supply chain issues. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted. Sewing experience is not necessary, but making the masks with a sewing machine is required, so that they can be washed and withstand the need to reuse, if necessary. If you can help, please respond to this need. Once you register below, we will send you a Million Mask Mayday toolkit that includes: face mask patterns, a list of acceptable materials, and where materials can be purchased online. PLEASE NOTE: Jersey Cares is working in collaboration with Million Masks Mayday to provide these homemade masks to healthcare professionals to be used as a last resort, or in lower risk situations, due to the extreme shortage of N95 respirators and surgical masks needed in response to COVID-19. Please see below for specific guidelines from the CDC's Crisis Strategy section: "When No Facemasks Are Available, Options Include: Healthcare personnel (HCP) use of homemade masks: In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face." The health and safety of volunteers and our community is our top priority. If you feel vulnerable to exposure or do not feel comfortable volunteering at this time, please refrain from doing so. To help us care for one another, we recommend volunteers follow these guidelines: Please do not register as a Sewer for the Million Mask Mayday project if you are sick or someone in your household is sick. Please wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water. For additional resources and recommendations please visit: https://covid19.nj.gov/