Mask Makers complete their mission with final donation to hospital

What started as a simple Facebook post from Carol Thorman in April of 2020 looking for materials to personal protective gear for front-line workers has ended with over 1,000 volunteers sewing together 57,265 masks and a final donation of $3,930 to Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation.

“I can finally see my kitchen floor again,” said Thorman standing in front of a dolly filled with thousands of masks.

On July 14 the Cambridge Mask Makers gathered out front of Cambridge Memorial Hospital to drop off the final shipment of masks to the hospital, including a surprise donation the group raised by selling the excess materials it had on hand.

“Everyone in the world needed the scarce supplies that were available, so we picked up the slack,” said Thorman. "We formed a committee of women I’ve never met before this, and we had someone in charge of procurement, delivery, pick up, cutting kits, patterns, and we coordinated with the hospital.”

Remembering back to the start of the pandemic, Patrick Gaskin, president and CEO at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, said it was a crisis and not knowing whether they would have medical-grade masks and how they would support staff and patients.

He added: it was amazing knowing how the community rallied to help the hospital in their time of need.

“I can’t emphasize it enough as I reflect back on it,” said Gaskin. “We got to a stage where our supply for our staff was not being depleted where our community was being supported, if you think of the early days you couldn’t find them, you have to really take a step back and realize how a group of volunteers stepped in and stepped up and did such incredible work.”

Now, with the sewing needles put down and the coordinating done, Thorman said it was time for her to relax and take some time off knowing she helped her community survive the shortages of personal protective gear.

“I have to say I’m going to be sorry to see this group end! I know it’s great to have accomplished as a group what we have done,” said mask maker Laurie Monique in an email. “I also feel through the difficult times, this group has given me a purpose and a feeling that in some way I have helped. I’m not a front-line worker, but I have made a small contribution to my community, and at the same time, have discovered a wonderful community of fellow sewists and helpers.”