68 People Sew 3K Masks In Support Of Jeffco Food Drive

LAKEWOOD, CO — A dedicated group of 68 men and women — the Mask Mavens — have sewn 25,000 masks since March to help their communities, 3,000 of which will be sold in support of The Action Center in Lakewood.

The masks will be sold Saturday during a food donation drive-thru from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Belmar Plaza, 404 S Upham St.

"The large food donation drive-thru hosted by these organizations comes at a time when the Action Center needs it most as they work to restock the organization’s free grocery shelves," The Action Center said in a news release.

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Those who would like to participate need to bring fresh, nonperishable food items to Belmar Plaza, organizers said. The Action Center, Mask Mavens, and Belmar will be implementing safe social distancing practices as well as requiring volunteers to adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear masks and gloves, organizers said. The Action Center is most in need of canned fruit, hearty soups, pasta and sauce, cereal, and peanut butter.

“We are grateful for partnerships with groups like the Mask Mavens and Belmar to benefit our community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues,” said Action Center Director of Development John Covert.

“We know that many of our neighbors are experiencing hardships that they could have never anticipated. Everyone needs a little help sometimes, and it’s perfectly ok to ask. These kinds of events mean that we will be able to provide a variety of assistance.”

One of the most notable Mask Mavens is 99-year-old Florence Pierson, born during the tail end of the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1920. Florence has been "no stranger to adversity and serving her fellow man," event organizers said. During WWII, she spent time folding bandages with her mother, which eventually led her to join WAVES. She knew as the COVID-19 pandemic began her community would need her to serve once again, The Action Center said.

Florence has become a Mask Mavens top producer, sewing 800 masks - just 200 masks short of her 1,000 masks goal by her October birthday. Florence’s masks and other Mask Mavens will be located throughout Belmar with their homemade masks available for a donation.

The masks have been distributed to hospitals, meals on wheels, care centers and other important community agencies and organizations.

Those who need assistance can come to the Action Center Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to pick up free groceries and learn more about the other resources the Action Center can provide, organizers said. No appointment or documentation is necessary.