Friend,

This is an incredibly difficult time for our community, our state, our country, and the world. Right now, our campaign is committed to doing all we can to help others stay healthy and safe -- particularly on the frontlines in this crisis.

Our healthcare workers are putting themselves at tremendous risk because they don’t have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to be safe while caring for COVID-19 patients. Workers in many other settings -- nursing homes, shelters, and social service organizations -- need protection as well. We are going to help by making face masks for them.

If you have a sewing machine and would like to help, please start making masks. We are making arrangements to deliver them to healthcare and other organizations across the region that need them. Sign up here to let us know that you’re working on this and so we can keep you informed with updates on the effort.

There are lots of ways to make these face masks. Here are three guides: printable instructions, a picture tutorial, and a video tutorial. If you want to make masks specifically for the hospitals in Syracuse, you need to use this pattern.

The most important thing is to use a tightly woven cotton fabric. Research has shown that this is the best choice, stopping the highest percentage of particles from penetrating.

Let’s stay connected and encourage each other. Keep us posted on your progress. Let us know how many masks you’ve made. And please post pictures of them or yourself sewing them!

We're all in this together,

Dana