SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — What started as a Bridgewater mom sewing masks to help front-line workers during the coronavirus crisis has since exploded into an army of volunteers and neighbors. They are all part of The Mask Squad of Somerset County, sewing out of their own homes.
When the outbreak began, Jennifer Loughran of Bridgewater was looking for a way to help when she heard about doctors and nurses having to reuse their disposable masks. She could sew and started making face coverings. She has since recruited almost 100 neighbors from across the county who spend hours cutting and sewing the masks and preparing them for distribution. Thus, The Mask Squad of Somerset County was created.
“It has really grown, sort of like a mushroom, to the point where we have a backlog of people who want to donate supplies,” Rachel Diroll-Zack said. “We are making masks as fast as we can.”
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Since March, the squad has sewn and donated more than 11,000 masks. The face coverings have been donated to anyone who needs them including the Raritan, Bound Brook, and Branchburg police departments, employees at Trader Joe’s, health care workers, those who are immunocompromised and others.
Along with masks, the squad is making ear relief straps, surgical caps and headbands as well.
Diroll-Zack of Raritan noted how the squad works together to produce the masks.
“If a sewing machine breaks down, there is always someone to help out,” Diroll-Zack said. “It’s really an interesting way to interact with the community. It’s like we have a barter economy.”
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The squad is completely volunteer and works solely off monetary and physical donations of supplies to keep things going. To date, the squad has raised more than $11,000 for its efforts. To donate, people can visit here.
“It’s really an interesting experience,” Diroll-Zack said. “The way we live nowadays, we are not as connected with our neighbors. But with the squad, we found a way to connect with the community at large.”
The squad is always in need of more volunteers.
“They do not have to be professionals at sewing; they just need to know how to follow a basic pattern,” Diroll-Zack said. “We have kids sewing as young as 7 or 8 years old, teens, Girl and Boy Scouts. And some are even using their 3D printers.”
To join the Mask Squad of Somerset County, to make a donation or to request a mask visit themasksquad.com or facebook.com/TheMaskSquadSomersetNJ or its GoFundMe page.
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