One way to supplement the growing need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is to join the national movement of volunteers who have started to sew face masks. This generous outpouring is in response to the Center for Disease Control's guidance that fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted.

The American Hospitals Association (AHA), which recently launched the "100 Million Masks Challenge," recommends first checking with your local hospital(s) to find out about their PPE inventory. If handmade masks are not needed you could still make them for yourself, your family, and for others in the community.

Below are instructions and general guidance from AHA for those who wish to participate and help by sewing masks for donation.

Thank you for donating your time and effort to help the Brattleboro Retreat. We appreciate your generosity.

Important infection prevention

Before starting this project, please ask yourself the following questions:

  1. Have you been in contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
  2. Do you have fever, cough or shortness of breath?

If you are able to answer "NO" to both questions, then proceed with making masks.

If you answer "YES" to either or both questions, please do not make masks. If you are experiencing cough, fever, or shortness of breath and have a concern that you may have COVID-19 please call your primary care provider for a risk assessment.

Instructions, Pattern, and Video from the AHA 100 Million Masks Challenge:

NOTE: The instructions and pattern provided above are suggestions only. The Retreat will gladly accept various types of donated masks.

Dropping off masks at the Brattleboro Retreat

Masks can be dropped off at the Brattleboro Retreat visitor entrance on Anna Marsh Lane. The visitor entry is the one with a portico, and just inside the first set of sliding glass doors is a donation box for the masks.

You can also mail your donated masks to:

Brattleboro Retreat
Attention: Materials Management
PO Box 803
1 Anna Marsh Lane
Brattleboro, VT 05302

 

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