How You Can Help Metro Detroit's Doctors, Nurses, and Medical Workers

Last Friday, Detroit Sewn in Pontiac Michigan announced that they would be temporarily halting their normal operations to begin producing hospital masks on March 23rd. Their goal is to produce 50,000 masks as quickly as they can so they made a call for local sewers to apply. They received thousands of applications and will not be able to hire everyone who applied, but that doesn't mean that you can't help. If you know how to sew and have some materials laying around to do so, here is what you can do.

The hospitals are running low on masks and supplies. To compensate they are using DIY handmade masks and protective gear when they have to. We have seen a lot of people posting about this, but there is very little direction on what mask to make and what to do with the masks once they are completed. So, we did some research so that you don't have to.

According to healthcare workers the best masks are made out of polypropylene (hard to get), rayon, or polyester, but cotton and other materials will work if that is all you have. There are lots of patterns floating around but these two are the ones that nurses and hospital workers are directing people to use.

https://www.instructables.com/id/AB-Mask-for-a-Nurse-by-a-Nurse/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCJcE-r7kcg&feature=youtu.be

Once you have found the materials and made the mask you have to find a way to get the mask into the hands of hospital workers. If you know someone that works in a hospital we suggest reaching out to them personally to see how many masks they need for themselves and their crew. If you do not know anyone that works in a hospital, we have found two ways for you to connect with someone who can get your mask into the hands of someone who needs them.

https://www.sewthecurveflat.com/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsQuj7cZdie6HvSViFqAhJOiTXknh1rL1cLrvagDdEo/edit?fbclid=IwAR29QjAbXRyo9k9WQYAPCpi4Ii2Bw-zlfCXtpp0G79-yweohMPxmlTvE85Q#gid=0

So, if you want to sew, go ahead and do it. It's a great way to be creative, pass the time, and help during this pandemic.

Sewing masks is a great way to help, but donating unused supplies is even better. If you happen to have any leftover unused hospital supplies that is even better. Beaumont and Henry Ford are calling for everyone to round up their leftovers to drop off for the workers to use.

They are looking for:

Disposable face masks
N95 masks, sometimes called respirators
Eye protection including face shields and safety goggles
Disposable gowns
Disposable gloves, especially non-latex
Disposable surgical caps
Disposable foot covers
Wipes: bleach or antimicrobial
Hand sanitizer

If you have any of these items you can drop them off here:

Beaumont Service Center
26901 Beaumont Boulevard in Southfield
Donation bins will be located outside the Beaumont Service Center's main entrance through March 28.

Henry Ford Hospitals
One Ford Place in Detroit or at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson
Sundays (beginning Sunday, March 22) from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Oakland County Donations
Oakland County Farmers Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford
Donations will be accepted from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stay in and stay safe! See you on the other side of COVID-19.

~S