Cloth Mask Covers to extend the use of N95 Masks
Donation protected
U P D A T E: Thanks to your generosity, we're now on track to make and donate 3,800 masks with donations made to our GoFundMe campaign as well as checks sent directly to us. We're so grateful for this incredible community rallying around our frontliners. Merci, grazie, gracias, danke...thank you!
Hello friends!
We hope you're happy and healthy. Thanks for considering our GoFundMe campaign! Our goal is to raise enough money to fund the production of 2,500 masks to be donated to healthcare workers and first responders.
These cloth masks fit over the N95 masks healthcare professionals are already wearing, extending their effective life during this time of desperate need and scarce supply.
Like many businesses, we were forced to close our apparel design studio in San Francisco to help slow the spread of Covid-19. That’s when we began making masks out of the stock cotton fabrics we had in our warehouse.
Initially, we were thinking they'd be handy to cover a cough for people when they ventured out in public, but after speaking with doctors and nurses working without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), especially a shortage of N95 masks, we shifted gears.
We teamed up with Sally Dominguez, who specializes in innovative thinking at Singularity University and Stanford. We brainstormed a system to help health workers extend the use of their N95 masks - the most effective protection against the spread of Covid-19. We determined that the best solution would be a washable, reusable two-ply cotton mask that covers the N95, allowing healthcare workers to use them for longer periods, rather than replace them with something that doesn't offer adequate protection, such as a surgical mask or a bandana. We found a mask pattern online, created by nurse Jessica Nandino, and adapted it for our needs.
The solution Sally suggests is easy and effective, including sterilization, storage and protection of the N95 mask, including a Backcast analysis on the materials and functions of the N95 that Sally Dominguez carried out as part of her thinking strategy.
The beauty of this cotton mask is that it can also be worn on it’s own to cover a cough and help limit the spread of the virus.
Since starting our project, we've connected with doctors, nurses, family, and friends who are in need of masks for themselves or their loved ones. The demand quickly surpassed our in-house capacity. We know a lot masks are being made by large corporations, but until everyone has what they need, we're going to continue to help and connect with our community.
We believe that things made with love are just better. It's important for those on the front lines to know that we're doing our part to help them. We're all in this together.
So many people have given their input and helped with this project, including Karla Fix, Tracy Lo, Lisa Handel-Dalvand, Stephanie Stimmler, Joan Young, David Anderson, Kalev Golubjatnikov, Elizabeth Barsali, Mary Ann Parker, Jenny Xie, Kathy Abrahamson, Laura Moon, Karen Gardner, Jacqui Miranda, Dan Tynan, Nga Tran, Robert Kaufman, and countless others. It really does take a village.
THANK YOU.
OUR GOAL:
* At least 2,500 more masks to donate to healthcare workers and first responders.
* Jobs for our local San Francisco factory so its workers can be paid. We're donating all the supplies, funds raised will be used to cover the labor costs to cut and sew 2500 masks.
*UPDATE: Our original goal covered the first 2500 masks using our instock fabrics. WE DID IT! We're now using additional donations here as well as funds sent directly to us to purchase fabric and make additional masks. We're currently on track to make 3,800 masks.
Hello friends!
We hope you're happy and healthy. Thanks for considering our GoFundMe campaign! Our goal is to raise enough money to fund the production of 2,500 masks to be donated to healthcare workers and first responders.
These cloth masks fit over the N95 masks healthcare professionals are already wearing, extending their effective life during this time of desperate need and scarce supply.
Like many businesses, we were forced to close our apparel design studio in San Francisco to help slow the spread of Covid-19. That’s when we began making masks out of the stock cotton fabrics we had in our warehouse.
Initially, we were thinking they'd be handy to cover a cough for people when they ventured out in public, but after speaking with doctors and nurses working without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), especially a shortage of N95 masks, we shifted gears.
We teamed up with Sally Dominguez, who specializes in innovative thinking at Singularity University and Stanford. We brainstormed a system to help health workers extend the use of their N95 masks - the most effective protection against the spread of Covid-19. We determined that the best solution would be a washable, reusable two-ply cotton mask that covers the N95, allowing healthcare workers to use them for longer periods, rather than replace them with something that doesn't offer adequate protection, such as a surgical mask or a bandana. We found a mask pattern online, created by nurse Jessica Nandino, and adapted it for our needs.
The solution Sally suggests is easy and effective, including sterilization, storage and protection of the N95 mask, including a Backcast analysis on the materials and functions of the N95 that Sally Dominguez carried out as part of her thinking strategy.
The beauty of this cotton mask is that it can also be worn on it’s own to cover a cough and help limit the spread of the virus.
Since starting our project, we've connected with doctors, nurses, family, and friends who are in need of masks for themselves or their loved ones. The demand quickly surpassed our in-house capacity. We know a lot masks are being made by large corporations, but until everyone has what they need, we're going to continue to help and connect with our community.
We believe that things made with love are just better. It's important for those on the front lines to know that we're doing our part to help them. We're all in this together.
So many people have given their input and helped with this project, including Karla Fix, Tracy Lo, Lisa Handel-Dalvand, Stephanie Stimmler, Joan Young, David Anderson, Kalev Golubjatnikov, Elizabeth Barsali, Mary Ann Parker, Jenny Xie, Kathy Abrahamson, Laura Moon, Karen Gardner, Jacqui Miranda, Dan Tynan, Nga Tran, Robert Kaufman, and countless others. It really does take a village.
THANK YOU.
OUR GOAL:
* At least 2,500 more masks to donate to healthcare workers and first responders.
* Jobs for our local San Francisco factory so its workers can be paid. We're donating all the supplies, funds raised will be used to cover the labor costs to cut and sew 2500 masks.
*UPDATE: Our original goal covered the first 2500 masks using our instock fabrics. WE DID IT! We're now using additional donations here as well as funds sent directly to us to purchase fabric and make additional masks. We're currently on track to make 3,800 masks.
Organizer
Amy Kuschel Brugger
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
