HAMPTON ROADS, Va.— The Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters is looking for thousands of hand-sewn masks for their big and small visitors.
On Monday, they put the call out to groups like Tidewater Sew Vac, who then reached out to the 10,000 people on their email list. Tami Overstreet with Tidewater Sew Vac says several people responded, eager to help any way they could.
“I called one lady yesterday and she said, 'Well, you know, I’m really not a sewer, but I know about 4,500 ladies who are, so I’ll make sure this gets to them,'” said Overstreet.
CHKD is looking for anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 mask donations to give to visitors across their healthcare facilities.
“We are looking for both adult sizes for maybe the parent that is coming in, but then also pediatric sizes for those children that are coming in for appointments and presenting at urgent care centers,” says Joy Parker, Director of Volunteer Services with CHKD.
Parker says the masks will help raise personal awareness about social distancing at their healthcare centers for parents, visitors and patients.
“When you see someone with a mask, you tend to stay a little farther away or the person is a little more aware that they need to keep some amount of social distance there,” says Parker.
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Tidewater Sew Vac will have bins at all their locations across Hampton Roads where masks can be dropped off for them to be delivered to CHKD.
“You can come bring them into the store and drop them in a bin, or if you don’t want to come into the store, you can call whenever you’re on the way and we will run out to your car and pick them up from you,” says Overstreet.
You can also call CHKD at 757-668-7000 and let the operator know you would like to donate.
CHKD is asking people to put the face masks in a bag labeled either adult or child size.
Tidewater Sew Vac has a pattern that can be made from whatever materials you have at home, but CHKD says any pattern will do and all helping hands are welcome.
