Bridgewater Mom Crafts Coronavirus Face Masks For Nurses

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bethany Henry, Bridgewater mother of two and owner of LilyBug Bow and Co., is making and donating face masks for nurses at local hospitals and those in need amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Henry had just given birth to her second daughter Allison at 30 weeks at St. Peter’s University Hospital. Allison is now 39 weeks and remains at the hospital with respiratory issues. Going back and forth to the hospital gave Henry the idea to make the masks.

"When the virus started I wanted to make sure I was protecting myself and started making myself a few masks. Then I thought about all of the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] nurses at St. Peters," Henry said.

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Henry also runs her own hairband and bow business, LilyBug Bow and Co., which is named after her first daughter Lillian. Henry used extra material from her business to start crafting the face masks last week.

"I made six for the primary nurses and they went crazy over them. What better way to kill time during the quarantine? I kept making a few more and everyone wanted one in the NICU," Henry said.

Henry then began to make some masks for her family and friends and also donated more to anyone who is at high risk of contracting COVID-19 including pregnant women, healthcare workers, essential employees, patients and more.

In one week Henry says she has easily donated more than 80 masks. Each mask takes about 15 minutes to make with the help of her 21-month-old daughter Lillian. The masks are reusable and can be washed.

Henry has since expanded to donate masks to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and New York Univeristy Medical Center.

She has been scouring Target and Walmart for supplies and has even used bed sheets to make masks but supplies are running low. With the increase in the amount of masks needed, Henry is asking for donations cotton fabric, elastic, and thread.

Henry has a no contact bin placed at her home for donations and has also set up a Venmo account for monetary donations.

Additionally Henry is selling masks for anyone interested for $5 each. To learn more about Henry or to donate visit facebook.com/groups/lilybugbowandco or instagram.com/lilybug_bowandco.

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