Whether it’s men, women, teens or seniors, a Guelph sewing group created by a retired paramedic has seen people from all walks of life donate their time to create masks.
The Guelph Mask Kit Squad comprised of over 150 participants worked approximately over 3,500 hours since the pandemic hit to provide masks for the community to fill a need for personal protective equipment in Guelph.
As of Thursday, they’ve donated 11,400 three-pleat masks to respond to requests from non-profit and community organizations such as hospitals, not for profit organizations, senior homes and even daycares.
“It’s huge. We’re actually ridiculously happy and excited and pleased about it,” said Ricki Bristow who created the Facebook group Guelph Mask Kit Squad.
Bristow used to work as an Ontario paramedic for many years. When the pandemic was declared mid-March, she quickly realized the urgency for people to wear masks in public.
“As COVID-19 started ramping up, we knew, especially those of us with a medical background, that cloth masks were going to become a necessity, even though they weren’t endorsed yet,” said Bristow whose job in administrative work was also affected by the pandemic.
After making them for her own family, she and two other friends and guilders Martine McQuade and Donna Bateman began to fill requests for masks from the greater Guelph community.
The idea of creating masks for the community was then inspired by a sewing group in Cambridge that uses a kit comprised of raw products such as fabric, elastic and thread which is sent to community members so they can assemble it and bring back to the group.
“Basically, we called Cambridge and asked them about what they’re doing and basically decided to do the same thing here,” said Bristow who uses her home as a pickup station for community members to pick up the kits.
“This is keeping us busy and it’s a way to give people something to do so they feel productive and not like a victim.”
Bristow said everything the group uses is based on community donations. And while they don’t request donations, they are certainly happy to accept them.
“We don’t do any sales of any kind,” said Bristow.
“We don’t turn people away. They want a mask, they can have one.
Bristow said she never expected the group to come as far as it did and will continue to work with them together to provide masks to the community until commercial entities catch up so people have somewhere to go to get masks.
She said throughout the pandemic, the group has been delighted to be a part of a solution at a time of crisis.
“The part that gives people hope is that they’re making a difference. And they really are. We get so much good feedback from clients but also from participants who talk about how it has given them purpose during this time,” said Bristow.
“We even have some seniors who sew in their nursing homes.”
She said by no means is the group limited to a specific demographic.
“It’s men and women who are sewing of all ages. We’ve got teens who are helping all the way up to seniors. We’ve even got some kids who are helping their moms and dads,” said Bristow adding that one of the neatest things about the collaborative effort is it brings people together for a shared purpose.
"They're making connections and building community as they pick up and drop off donations at my house. We'll keep going until we are not needed anymore."
Bristow said the group has made her incredibly proud to be a part of Guelph.
“It’s a community that so clearly cares about each other. It just reaffirms why I love this city so much,” said Bristow.
