Volunteer sewing groups help fight COVID-19 with homemade masks

Holly Maxwell, who’s been sewing since she was young, is putting her sewing skills to work to make masks for staff, essential workers, and others in Athens and surrounding areas. 

“It really comes down to ‘It’s either this or nothing,’” said Maxwell, an active member of two mask-making Facebook groups.

The type of masks she donates are not meant to be worn alone by medical professionals, but to cover the more effective N95 respirators and prolong their usability. 

Maxwell is one of many volunteers who are doing their part in the fight against COVID-19. 

“I think the demand right now is unlimited,” said Sanni Baumgärtner, founder and owner of the fashion store called Community, which is also making masks.

Madeline Laguaite and Jillian Tracy, students studying health and medical journalism for Spring Semester 2020, wrote about the local efforts in a recent post for Georgia Health News. Click here to read their full post.