SaddleBrooke residents Rick and Elaine Beeble were troubled to learn of a severe shortage of protective masks for medical caregivers in today’s troubling times. As they were talking about this problem, they quickly came up with an idea to address that need, if only in a small way.
Elaine, who loves to sew, did an internet search on how to make medical masks at home and watched several YouTube videos on the subject. Being a former nurse, she settled on a design recommended by Deaconess Hospital in the state of Washington.
Although Rick and Elaine knew these homemade masks would primarily be worn under N95 medical masks, they also learned that some medical caregivers, like home-care nurses, can’t get N95 or other protective masks, so homemade ones might be their only option.
That sent Rick and Elaine back to the internet, where they learned that clipping a coffee filter on back of these homemade masks improved their protective value. Even better, they said, the coffee filter could be easily changed out whenever needed, extending the life of the homemade cloth medical mask, so coffee filters were added to their list of needed materials.
Given all this information, the Beebles decided to start making these medical masks in their home.
Their first challenge was assembling all the materials needed to make the masks. Elaine started by ordering 288 yards of elastic on Amazon.
As they were thinking about where to get the needed fabric, they remembered their SaddleBrooke square dance club had an inventory of very colorful material that was once used to decorate club shirts and dresses.
They made a quick call to the presidents of the SaddleBrooke Squares and asked if the club would be willing to donate its fabric for this project and, in the blink of an eye, there were 12 bolts of fabric sitting on Elaine’s sewing table.
She calculated she could make 140 masks out of one bolt of fabric and said to herself, “140 times 12 equals 1,680. I think Rick and I are going to need some help with this project.” Her first step was to send an e-mail to her fellow SaddleBrooke square dancers asking who had a sewing machine and was willing to help on this project. Before she knew it, she had four ladies who had sewing machines and wanted to help and others who offered to cut material, supply coffee filters and help in any way needed.
Making a medical mask on a home sewing machine is a very time-consuming task and, wanting to get these masks in the hands of the people who needed them ASAP, Rick put a post on the SaddleBrooke Nextdoor Neighbor site asking who had a sewing machine and was willing to help sew these medical masks. Before they knew it, 16 more ladies were stitching away on their machines.
When asked how they were going to distribute these masks, the Beebles said they will go to hospitals, home health care nurses, patients who have to go to hospitals for radiation and chemo, and nursing homes.
Rick and Elaine have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have volunteered to help. Elaine said, “We go to bed very tired but also rejuvenated knowing that today we and many others have loved one another.”
As you read this article, Rick and Elaine and their helpers are busy cutting their materials to size, as they know they will soon be getting a call from someone saying “I’m bringing 10 finished masks to your home, so please have 10 more precut masks ready for me to take with me.”
Photos for April 1: Tucson gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
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A dinosaur statue over the doors of MATS Dojo at 5929 E. 22nd St., sports an athletic cup for a face mask in the second week of COVID-19 restrictions, March 31, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A pair of protestors use their car to block west bound traffic on Silverlake to let other protestors make the left turn in into the Pima County Adult Detention Complex during a vehicle based demonstration by #FreeThemAll for the release of prisoners in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, March 31, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Raj Paudel hands a bag of food to a customer at Govinda's to-go-tent located at 711 E. Blacklidge Drive, on April 1, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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The biggest hit to employment in Arizona came in the leisure and hospitality industry — hotels, bars, restaurants and places of amusement — which alone shed 5,200 jobs.
Tucson, coronavirus
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John Aldecoa tapes up a banner outside his restaurant, Brother John's, as he and his staff get ready to serve again after being closed since the COVID-19 restrictions were put in place two weeks ago, April 1, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Michael Olivas, right, helps Arnold Vizcaino, City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees, lock up swings at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are going around to all Tucson parks to close all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, all sports courts and fields, horseshoe pits and splash pads due Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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Caution tape across an entrance on a playground at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are closing all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, sports courts and more due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A "CLOSED' sign and caution tape is placed around a ramada at Gene C. Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way, in Tucson, Ariz., on April 1, 2020. The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation employees are going around to all Tucson parks to close all ramadas, gazebos, playgrounds, outdoor fitness equipment, all sports courts and fields, horseshoe pits and splash pads due Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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Vanessa Richards, 18, left, and Ella Dotson, 17, adjust their mortar boards and hair in the window of a building along Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson on March 31, 2020. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the rest of the school year has been canceled. Richards and Dotson are seniors at Marana High School and will not have a formal graduation ceremony. The pair came to downtown to get photos of themselves in their caps and gowns.
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Vanessa Richards, 18, left, and Ella Dotson, 17, take a selfie as their friend, Camilla Hamilton, 17, gets her photo taken by Vanessa’s mother, Chrissi, along Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson on March 31, 2020. Due to the coronavirus, the rest of the school year has been canceled. The Marana High School seniors went downtown to get photos of themselves in their caps and gowns.
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Georgia Goodwin, volunteer, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
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Along with other volunteers and employees, Paula Sanford, center, volunteer, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Andy Cathey, Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum employee, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Andy Cathey, Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum employee, sews masks for hospital workers and the community at Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum, 5701 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Cathey's Sewing and Vacuum have made roughly 2,000 masks, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in one week for local hospitals in Southern Arizona.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Rudy Arriaga, far left, and his mother, Dale, chat with Damian Velez, far right, general manager and Joseph Ashbacher before leaving with their takeout order at Bianchi's Italian Restaurant, 3640 W. Tangerine Road, in Marana, Ariz. on March 30, 2020. The Marana location will closed due to a drop in business.
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A man wearing personal protective equipment works out at FitCore at Morris K Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 29, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Ruby Boulet-Stephenson waters the family's new backyard garden, on March 27, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Roccos Little Chicago Pizzeria sports the phrase "Eat the Rich" on its marquee, on March 31, 2020. The local pizza spot is currently closed due to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19.)
Tucson, coronavirus
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A pedestrian crosses Church Avenue near the Historic Pima County Courthouse in a nearly-empty downtown Tucson during the coronavirus pandemic in spring 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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A bank customer wears gloves while at a drive up ATM at Chase Bank, 8701 E. Broadway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 29, 2020.
Tucson, coronavirus
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While traveling through Tucson, Canadians Lauri Buchanan and her husband Brian Buchanan, left, eat lunch with their friends Rhonda McDonald and her husband Pat McDonald, right, from Wyoming, outside of Whataburger, 6504 E. 22nd St., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 30, 2020. Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan and Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were eating outside due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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David Cardinal, a sales associate at The Hub, works with a customer at the gun store located at 1400 S Alvernon Way, on March 28, 2020. The store saw an increase in customers during the last few weeks.
Tucson, coronavirus
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An employee at The Hub, a gun store located at 1400 S Alvernon Way, works with a customer on March 28, 2020. The store saw an increase in customers during the last few weeks.
Tucson, coronavirus
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Cassie Phelps, food service employee for Tucson Unified School District, hands two students lunches and breakfast at Harold Steel Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Dr., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 31, 2020. TUSD is offering lunches and breakfast for students due to schools being canceled because of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Tucson, coronavirus
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Jolene Luquin, teaching assistant for Tucson Unified School District, organizes educational packets for a parent at Harold Steel Elementary School, 700 S. Sarnoff Dr., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 31, 2020. The educational packets, for grades K-12, include the curriculum for all classes from science to math to history and others. It allows the students, parents and teachers to keep learning despite not being in the classroom, according to Karla Escamilla, TUSD public information officer. TUSD plans to have most of the paperwork online in the next couple of weeks, said Escamilla, as well as issue laptops to students who don't have access to a computer. TUSD is issuing these packets and online school due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
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After more than a week in isolation, Tami and Tedd Handy get the chance to dance as Mama Coal, Carra Stasney and Tim O'Connor give a street concert on Placita de Zacatal in the Casas Adobes neighborhood, Saturday, March 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
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Mama Coal, Carra Stasney and Tim O'Connor take to the great outdoors along Moonshroud Dr., in Catalina Shadows, Saturday, March 28, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
