Photo courtesy of Masks for Superheroes
By: Jen Russon
A retirement and assisted living facility in Parkland received a welcomed surprise when a shipment of coveted facial masks arrived via the hard work and generosity of a volunteer sewing group.
Sue Butler, Director at Aston Gardens at Parkland Commons, said the residents were deeply grateful for over 100 masks handmade by Masks for Superheroes, a new group of seamstresses, cutters, assemblers, and benefactors living in Parkland and surrounding communities.
“I have just felt enormous support and strength and good wishes, and so have my residents,” said Butler, adding that yesterday Aston staff was able to distribute 80 of the masks to the people living at the senior care facility on University Drive.
Butler said that since the COVID-10 crisis put the nation on high alert in March, donations of all kinds have poured into her facility from all over the Coral Springs and Parkland area.
Over 100 of those items came from Masks for Superheroes, who brought in carefully inspected masks for Aston staff and residents last week.
The nonprofit sewing group is headed up by Margate resident Jennifer Bakowski and Michelle Bullion Morris, who is a longtime resident of Parkland and has children enrolled at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“It’s hard to name everyone involved in this massive effort to make masks, but I don’t think any of us are looking for recognition. We just want people to know about us so they’ll donate either their skills or resources,” said Morris.
Morris pointed out that every mask produced by Masks for Superheroes has been inspected for quality and includes a polypropylene layer in between cotton layers, which is the same material used as a filter in N95 masks.
Masks for Superheroes focuses its distribution efforts to first responders, healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and essential personnel that are on the front lines, and includes wearing instructions and a disclaimer that a mask in and of itself is not sufficient protection from COVID-19.
Morris said this massive group effort that continues to grow in size had been streamlined mainly through a private Facebook group. She said they owe their massive output of masks to an assembly line approach that enables everyone to do their part without coming in contact with one another.
For more information on donating or receiving a mask, contact masksforsuperheroes@gmail.com.
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