Alanβs Shoes teamed up with the grassroots organization Sewing Masks for Tucson to hand out 2,000 face masks on Wednesday.
The grassroots organization started in mid-March with three people making masks for hospital workers, assisted living homes and the Red Cross. Now the group has grown to 65 active volunteers and is beginning to donate masks to the general public.
One of the organizers, Andrea Rodriguez, was inspired to make the masks after seeing her home country of the Czech Republic put a mask mandate in place.
Alan's Shoes decided to help sponsor Sewing Masks for Tucson after hearing about the organization's first public donation event at Alvernon Park where 700 masks were distributed.
βWe canβt help everybody. We are a local ma-and-pop business,β Annette Miklofsky, owner of Alanβs Shoes, said. βWe want to encourage other businesses or private individuals to help this organization. It helps everyone.β
Sewing Masks for Tucson has given away about 17,000 masks since it began in March.
For more information, go to masksfortucson.org; or Facebook: Sewing Masks for Tucson.
Volunteers with Sewing Masks for Tucson handed out face coverings during a drive-thru event at Alanβs Shoes on Wednesday. The group has handed out 17,000 masks since March.
Sewing Masks for Tucson started with a group of three people in mid-March. Today it has 65 active volunteers.
Andrea Rodriguez gives a bag of masks to a driver during an event organized by Sewing Masks for Tucson at Alanβs Shoes, 5632 E. Speedway Blvd., on July 29, 2020.
