Volunteers
1
Be aware of proper usage of the masks
Most of these patterns will create items for use OVER medical-grade PPE, to extend the lifetime of medical masks. Also, the efficacy of these items will depend on proper fit and usage. There is no guarantee that wearing a handmade mask from these patterns will prevent disease. However, we are doing our best to meet the demands of medical providers. The creators of this website and the patterns are not responsible for misinterpretation of the capabilities or misuse of these items.
2
Sign up on our Volunteer form
Visit our Volunteer signup page to be matched with a nearby mask sewing/PPE making group. Sewing skills are NOT necessary: we need volunteers to cut fabric, find donations, transport masks, and organize!
3
Collect materials and study patterns
While waiting to be contacted by a group leader, visit our Patterns and Resources pages. Review the Introduction to Cloth Masks slide show to learn about mask making. Visit our Current Needs page to see who needs masks, donations, or other supplies.
4
Get to work
If you find a Needs post with specific information on patterns and delivery, and you feel comfortable to do so, start sewing or crafting!
Otherwise, wait to be contacted by a local sewing group leader. If there is no group near you and you are willing to lead, continue reading on how to start a mask collection in your community!
Group Leaders
1
Be aware of proper usage of the masks
Most of these patterns will create items for use OVER medical-grade PPE, to extend the lifetime of medical masks. Also, the efficacy of these items will depend on proper fit and usage. There is no guarantee that wearing a handmade mask from these patterns will prevent disease. However, we are doing our best to meet the demands of medical providers. The creators of this website and the patterns are not responsible for misinterpretation of the capabilities or misuse of these items.
2
Identify the need nearest to you
Visit our Current Needs page to find medical facilities near you collecting masks, donations, or other supplies. Take note of what patterns they will accept, and how they want items delivered.
Also check the Groups page to see if there are already groups near you with whom you might combine forces.
If you already have a group or have made contact with a facility that needs masks, please skip forward to step 4.
3
Look over our Organizer packet
We have just released a downloadable organizers’ packet with materials such as sample confirmation emails, to help kickstart formation of your group.
4
Fill out our New Groups signup form
Let us know you’re out there and ready to help on the Groups form. It will create a blog post in our Groups section, which you can update with your latest needs, donation link, wishlists, and news. We’ll contact you and discuss how we can help you recruit volunteers, advertise your needs, and contact the hospitals you’d like to adopt.
5
Making contact
Contact the healthcare providers whom you would like to adopt, to let them know that you can deliver a certain minimum number of supplies to them. Or contact nearby sewing groups to see how you can coordinate.
If contact info for a group or facility has not been posted, please contact us through our form.
If you are looking to help healthcare providers in your own community, please reach out to their procurement officers to get specifications of what they need and how they want it delivered (using our Current Needs entries as a guide. It is important to find out whether the patterns we have are acceptable, or whether they have their own requirements.
6
Let us know you’ve adopted a hospital
We will mark their page so that other groups know that they are being taken care of.
7
Publicize
Share the link to your Groups page and the Volunteer signup form with your friends and networks on social media, such as Facebook and Nextdoor. Make sure to provide the name of your group so that volunteers can join the right group!
Medical Facilities, Nursing homes, Childcare facilities, and other essential services at risk
1
Be aware of proper usage of the masks
Most of these patterns will create items for use OVER medical-grade PPE, to extend the lifetime of medical masks. Also, the efficacy of these items will depend on proper fit and usage. There is no guarantee that wearing a handmade mask from these patterns will prevent disease. However, we are doing our best to meet the demands of medical providers. The creators of this website and the patterns are not responsible for misinterpretation of the capabilities or misuse of these items.
2
Check out our Patterns page
Visit our Patterns page to see if any of the patterns will meet your need. If you require small changes to the pattern, please list them on the Needs form. If you have specific instructions or patterns, please contact us and we will gladly post them on our Patterns page and volunteer form!
2
Sign up on our Needs form
- Identify what needs you have based on our Needs Form.
- Consider how you would like to receive the masks or supplies. If you would prefer to have them directly delivered by the public, choose “Yes” for “Post address and contact info on this site”. Or, make a specific request in the Descriptions section. If you would prefer to connect only with group leaders, please choose “No” for “Post address and contact info on this site”.
- Choose a photo or logo (optional) to display on our page
- Fill out our Needs Form
After we check over your entry, it will appear as an item on our Current Needs page. Please wait until it has posted before publicizing.
4
Publicize
Share the link to your Needs page and the Volunteer signup form with your friends and networks on social media, such as Facebook and Nextdoor. Make sure to provide the name of your group so that volunteers can join the right group!
5
Wait for contact and supplies to arrive
If you are not contacted by a sewing group within two days, feel free to reach out to us via Contact Us to prioritize your request for help.
6
Let us know when your need is fulfilled
Reach out to us via Contact Us so we can update your needs post with the information that you no longer need the help.