VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Stitch by stitch, London Bridge Trading is fighting back against coronavirus.
"We've been supporting the war fighter for 35 years. This is just a different war," said David Bohannon, the company's president.
The company is manufacturing 2,000 masks for Sentara. Across the country, hospitals have reported shortages of masks.
"We know what the need is. We all watch the news," Bohannon said. "We know how crazy it is and this is what we do, so we just offered our services," he said.
In a press release, Sentara said they're working with several companies who want to help make masks, but are partnering with London Bridge Trading because they can sew the masks to meet certain criteria and specifications needed.
A Richmond-based company called Cupron has donated the materials and London Bridge Trading is volunteering their services to sew the masks. The company usually makes gear for the military and law enforcement. "We can make everything," said Bohannon.
Sentara says these masks will not be used in place of N95 masks, which are used by medical staff treating COVID-19 patients or suspected COVID-19 patients. Instead, they'll be used like paper masks for patients who are sick upon arrival to hospitals, medical staff doing routine procedures and staff in other patient encounters.
"We are extremely grateful for the generous donations by Cupron, Inc. and London Bridge Trading and appreciate their support of our healthcare employees and community," a spokesperson for Sentara said.
London Bridge Trading says their services are available as the need is there. "If we have to put everybody on it next week. They're not able to get masks and if we get more material, we'll put everyone on it," said Bohannon.
