Calabasas Residents Donate, Sew, And Deliver Over 220 Masks

CALABASAS — There’s a lot a lot of meal delivery going on right now, but what about mask delivery? Calabasas is one of many cities in the Southland that requires anyone outdoors to wear masks, and the city’s Community Services Department has set up a mask donation and delivery program to help deliver masks to anyone having trouble obtaining them. The Face Masks Donation program has distributed over 220 masks — many of them made in Calabasas homes — to the city's residents since it began two weeks ago.

The program began when Councilmember Mary Sue Maurer saw on social media that community members were willing to masks for anyone who needed them. She worked with the Community Services Department to create a hotline program for residents to request masks and put out a call for donations from the community. Soon elastics, cloth, thread, string, and a whole rainbow of face masks began pouring in. Staff from the Community Services Department box the supplies in an office in De Anza Park, and are typically able to deliver completed masks, as well as a sheet of general COVID-19 resources in Greater Los Angeles, within 24 hours.

Since many people sent in materials, seven or eight community members with sewing machines at home have volunteered to string together masks, often creating anywhere from 24 to 40 masks at a time, according to Facility Supervisor Aimee Haber.

“We have more material than we’ll be able to sew,” Haber said, noting that the office just received another large shipment of supplies. “It’s been very quick, and we were just thrilled. People have been so generous.”

To donate, call 818-224-1657 or email facemasksdonation@cityofcalabasas.com.