HOW WE GREW TO PROVIDE
THOUSANDS OF MASKS TO
OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY
THE PROJECT
At the beginning of April, it was really hard to find masks. Many groups were doing the important work of making masks for healthcare and essential workers, but I felt called to contribute to my immediate community.
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I made a few masks and put them in my newspaper mailbox with a little sign that said "free masks." Within a day or two, they were gone. I restocked and posted on our valley's Facebook group, and within an hour, they were gone. I needed help.
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Within a few weeks, I had a team of mask makers and a mask station with answers to FAQs by the mailbox. Since then, we have consistently averaged giving at least 10 masks a day.
I'd like to think that we are creating a blanket of safety for ourselves by working together to share and wear protection. Neighbors have shared with their families, massage therapists, and house cleaners. Delivery drivers and postal workers have gotten masks. Anyone can stop by at any time and grab what they need. Even though they are widely commercially available now, people still use the box at the same rate as they did before.
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It continues to be a true honor to serve my neighbors in this way. I think we all feel less alone when we work as a community, and a little happier wearing a mask made with love. It's like a hug for your face without the COVID risk.
I made this site because I hope it gives someone else the tools and resources to do the same.
WHAT IT TAKES
It's pretty easy to start a mailbox! You need a team of mask makers, a mailbox (or some kind of storage container), and a way to tell your community that they are available!
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MASK MAKERS
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After starting solo, I just added a call for help on Facebook when I posted that I had restocked the box. I got about five helpers, all previously strangers, pretty quickly. We work at our own pace and when someone finishes a batch, they drop them on my porch. If I'm running low, I let everyone know and we all work to restock.
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A MAILBOX
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We use a newspaper mailbox that was previously unused. I made signs that say "MASKS" and just taped them to the box to help people find it.
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NOTE: you can't use your real mailbox for anything that isn't US Postal Service related.
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A WAY TO SPREAD THE WORD
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About once a week, I make a post on our community's Facebook page, which is very active. Your community might use Nextdoor or maybe even Craigslist. Just find out what platform is most popular and go for it!