Summit Women Coordinate Facemask Sewing Effort Amid Coronavirus

SUMMIT, NJ — Two Summit women are leading an effort to encourage volunteers to sew fabric masks for the medical community.

One of the organizers, Vicki Lederman, wrote, "Our goal is to get as many people as possible sewing fabric face masks to help meet the exponential need for personal protective gear for our health care providers. There has been a remarkable, almost 'viral,' mobilization of countless home sewers across the country including here in Summit, but many more are needed."

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She said, "There are doubtless many more people who sew and want to help but don't know that they can make masks and gowns for local hospitals, as well as people who are aware but don't know how to make them or how to get these masks to where they're needed. Everyone can help – people who don’t sew can source and order supplies, get them to the sewers, cut fabric, and pick up and deliver masks to where they’re most urgently needed."

Lederman teamed up with Lacey Rzeszowski of Summit, a former Assembly candidate who was spearheading an effort as well, to coordinate the many independent efforts that are working on of getting supplies, making masks, and getting them to where they're needed.

In addition to those who sew, they need people with strong leadership and organizational skills to help systematize their effort.

"Sew on, Summit!" Lederman said. The effort is tentatively called the Friends' Fabric Mask Assembly Line.

Anyone who can help in any way can email vickilederman@yahoo.com.

Experts also are recommending various ways to create masks, including Atlantic Health System, which posted this video.

JoAnn Fabrics posted advice. And the CDC does suggest types of homemade face masks, but says they're "a last resort" for anyone who needs one.

Residents who have questions about the virus can call 211 or contact the State of New Jersey's hotline at 1 (800) 222-1222.

Experts say that the novel coronavirus, because it's new, is more lethal and much harder to treat than the flu.

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

Got a news tip in Summit? Email caren.lissner@patch.com.

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