Sewing Masks for Anna Jaques Hospital
Thank you to Villager Mary Olson for exploring this way to help our healthcare professionals during this crisis. Mary writes: I know many of us are thinking of what to do to help. Well, here’s something for the sewers in our membership. The Newburyport News reported that Anna Jaques Hospital is asking for donations of personal protection equipment and will accept hand-sewn face masks that will be reserved for its crisis contingency supply.
Information from the Anna Jaques Community Health Foundation Office:
Thank you so very much for offering to sew face masks for our staff. It is most appreciated! In total, we have over 30 sewers at the moment, with more volunteers stepping forward every day. We are most grateful for your contributions to this effort. Here is some information that I hope will be helpful …
- Pattern: There is not a “preferred” pattern, so feel free to choose a pattern that you would enjoy making. The pattern we were suggesting in the “early” days is https://www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-Face-Mask . Just a suggestion
- Preferred fabric: tightly woven cotton.
- Work Environment: Before working on the masks, please create a clean work environment by washing your hands and disinfecting work surfaces as much as possible.
- Contact info: The office phone number is 978-463-1176, and our location is 18 Highland Avenue. We are in a medical building that is directly across from the Highland Avenue entrance to the hospital’s main parking lot. Our building also houses Riverside Pediatrics (Drs. Pilz and Bottner), Newburyport Medical Associates (Drs. McCartney and Thomas), and Port Integrative Health (Dr. Hardy and Leith Nippes).
- Drop-off information: Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you call the office number (978-463-1176) we are happy to come out to your car. Another option is to leave them in a bin that is located at the top of the ramp leading into the building. That can be done 24/7. Please put them in a bag or container of some sort and identify with your name and the number of masks.
- Pick-up information: If there should come a time when we must shelter in place or if you are self-isolating, we are happy to pick up at your home. Just call the office and one of us will swing by. Please put the masks in a bag or container that is labeled with your name and the number of masks. When you call, let us know where the masks will be placed.
Click the links below to get sewing instructions for making hospital masks:
Newburyport Village member Mary Olson has volunteered to help with more information as needed. Contact the Village at membership@greaternewburyportvillage.org and Mary will get back to you.