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Like many people in our community, Ruth D., of Nazareth spent the first few days of the COVID-19 outbreak wishing there was something she could to do help. As a retired Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) Oncology Nurse, she has a special understanding of what the day of a health care professional looks like, and the importance of having proper personal protective equipment during a global pandemic. Ruth decided to take to social media to rally her friends together to make face masks and so, Mask Force 2020 was created. In addition to Ruth, founding members include Sean B. and Sean K. from Northampton Area Community College's Fab Lab; Monica, a designer and fabric expert; and marketing gurus Jen, Aki, and Jill. In just two weeks’ time, Ruth and other Mask Force founding team members acquired a donation of 100,000 yards of fabric from JoAnn Fabric, and recruited more than 2,000 sewers to provide masks to health care professionals across Lehigh Valley.
Mask Force has brought thousands of homemade masks to LVHN Donation Drop off locations. They plan to continue making masks, encouraging others to do the same and donating them to clinical partners throughout Lehigh Valley as long as they're needed. LVHN is grateful for people like Ruth and her group of dedicated sewing volunteers who have donated supplies, homemade masks and gowns.