DfG Masks4Millions

Hello Maskateers & Anyone Needing Cloth Masks!

As of this morning, we have delivered 140 masks locally and are still sewing.

Thank you to our wonderful volunteer sewists for your willingness to step up to create face masks for medical professionals and immune-compromised individuals!

Thank you for all of the generous donations of fabric and elastic. We are accepting donations of sewing elastic (1/4", 3/8" or cord), 100% cotton fabric, 100% cotton thread. Please email us at BusyHands4All@gmail.com. The elastic is in short supply. Thank you!

Days for Girls' emails and phone lines have been flooded with requests for face masks to distribute to medical personnel and patients around the world. Together, we are ready to pivot to answer the call! If you need face masks, please fill out the form at www.DaysforGirls.org, and we will do everything we can to meet your needs. It is really easy! Here are step-by-step instructions to request masks.

Step 1: Go to www.DaysforGirls.org. Scroll to this mask image  & click "Learn More".

Step 2: Click "Request Masks".

Step 3: Fill in the form (this is a sample image, not a real form). Click "Submit Request".

If you have any questions or elastic/fabric/thread donations - please contact us.

Stay Calm & Sew ON! Stay safe.

With gratitude,

Days for Girls O'Fallon MO Team & Busy Hands4All

Frequently Asked Mask Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for the

DfG Masks4Millions Response

1. What pattern should I use?
We are finding that different hospitals, clinics, long term care facilities, fire stations,
homeless shelters, food banks, and others who are in need of masks have various
requirements. In some cases they are looking for a mask that fits over an N-95 mask to
make them last longer, others are requesting a pocket to use for various filters to give to
patients, and in many other situations, a basic mask can be excellent for helping not touch
their face. Check with the group who you are making the masks for and ask if they have
a specific request before starting if possible. If you are unsure, the basic mask is well
received in a majority of situations - especially for immune-compromised individuals.
When you register with us, we will update you as information comes in.

2. Do you have video tutorials?
Yes, there are several options.
Please watch this video from Dr. Lauren Streicher for a basic surgical mask. From an emergency doctor on a creative way to make an R-95 here.
Face mask to put over an R-95 mask with an insert. Found here
As more options come online, we will continue to update.

3. What are medical personnel saying about the use of cloth masks?
"Cloth masks can be very helpful in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Similar to paper surgical masks, cloth masks help prevent the transmission
of infectious droplets from the patient to the HCP (health care provider),
mainly if used in conjunction with eye protection and gloves (as
recommended by the CDC). Masks can also prevent potentially infectious
droplets from entering the air nearby. Though there is no data yet to
support this, cloth masks should work similarly to paper surgical masks as
they both act as a non-sterile physical barrier to person to person droplet
transmission. Due to the reusable nature of cloth masks, thorough washing
techniques after daily wear is an essential component of infectious disease
transmission reduction. The mask does not need to be sterilized but should
be cleaned with a disinfecting product such as soap and water. Cloth
masks could be an essential addition to existing medical equipment to help
prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Because both a surgical and cloth mask help prevent potentially infectious
droplets from a cough or sneeze from entering the air nearby, those with a
persistent cough should wear a mask when around others. Cloth masks
may be more comfortable in the long term and may lead to greater
adherence by those possibly infected individuals."
Dr. Karen E. Harris, MD, MPH
Day for Girls International Board Chair
Program Director for the OB/GYN Residency
UCF/HCA Consortium - Gainesville

4. I have heard that any type of mask other than an N-95 should not be used and
gives a fault sense of safety. Is that true?
There are differing opinions, and we are not medical experts. We do know that
there is a shortage, and all medical and immune-compromised people should be
prioritized to receive our N-95 supply. But we also have heard that for someone
who is sick, or finds a mask helps them not touch their face, then we also support
their choice, especially for those that are not able to stay at home (the preferred
location!)
Here is one article which quotes from Benjamin Cowling, an epidemiology
professor at the University of Hong Kong: "Masks are not a magic bullet against
coronavirus… but if everybody wears face masks, it probably can help, along with
all the other measures (like hand washing and social distancing), to reduce
transmission."

5. Are you still focused on ensuring menstrual products and health education
during this pandemic?
Yes! Because periods don't stop for pandemics, the need for healthy menstrual
products people can count on month after month will remain a quality option that
may be even more important to more of us as supply shortages occur.

6. Can I make masks for someone who isn't in the medical field?
Yes, we would encourage you to provide masks to anyone who is
immune-compromised, in the service field, and exposed to others or at particular risk
who is requesting one. Even with a mask, hand washing, and social distancing matters.

7. What is the Hashtag I should use for my photos when I share it on social
media?
#Masks4Millions and #PadstoMasks

Keep washing your hands, practicing social distancing, and STAY WELL. You
matter too. As more questions come in, we will continue to update this list.
Thank you!

The pattern is evolving

Hello Maskateers!

There are conflicting guidelines from 2 to 4 layers of tightly woven cotton, with or without pockets for filter material, with or without a wire for nose fit, with elastics or with ties. We are continuing with the Days for Girls pattern pleated mask option 2 with a few modifications. Click HERE for the pattern.

1. Add a pipe cleaner (minimum 4.5") to top for a better nose fit.
2. Use 4 @ 16" binding strips for ties when our elastic supply is depleted.
3. Optional serged 4.5" wide strip down the center of mask for a third layer. Filter material (if available) can be inserted behind it.

Some Notes:

--Do NOT try on a mask you are sending out.

--100% cotton acceptable for all sizes.

--Are you not sure if your fabric is 100% cotton? Use the burn test. Click HERE.

--Adult sizes needed more than child sizes.

--Do not use hair ties as the ear loops. They are too short and too tight.

--Get masks out as quickly as possible but do NOT sacrifice quality. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Use our porch bins for drop off of completed masks and/or pick up supplies.

Email us for bin locations, questions, and if you receive an order request for masks.

BusyHands4All@gmail.com

Interested in joining O'Fallon, MO Days for Girls during COVID-19? Here's how you can get involved!

As medical service personnel struggle to have access to medical masks and shelves empty of period products, it is clear that COVID-19 does not prevent us from helping— it just changes the way that we do it for right now!

Here are important ways that you can help:

Help medical professionals have access to face masks. Days for Girls is getting requests for cloth medical masks from hospitals that are short on medical masks, i.e. local hospitals, clinics, dental, and veterinary practices, and those serving chemotherapy or other immune-suppressed patients. We are checking locally to see if there is a need for these resources. People on chemotherapy or otherwise immune-suppressed may also need masks. However, face masks are not recommended for personal private usage as this can give false confidence and reduce access to fresh air.
If you know of any clinic or practice needing cloth masks, please email us at busyhands4all@gmail.com.

All we know is that right now, you can help! If you would like to sew masks, we will distribute them on your behalf. Here is a link to the mask patterns. Drop off any completed masks in the bins at Colette's home or Tina's home.

Please note: This need may only exist for a week or two before the traditional supply is available, or it may be longer.

Keep washing your hands, practicing social distancing, and STAY SAFE and WELL. You matter too. KEEP CALM AND SEW ON.

At Home Projects Available

I know it's only been a few days on lockdown and if you are like me, the at-home projects are endless.  But if you are wanting something else to do in a crafting sort of way, I still have many projects available. And I am sure I have forgotten something!

• Want to learn to loom knit?  I have a wide variety of looms available for you to borrow and there is a multitude of youtube videos that will quickly get you started.
• Want to trace patterns and cut fabric?  We have flannel for bibs, blankets and sharing hearts.  We have fleece for bears.  We have duck cloth for Rice bags.
• Want to sew?  We have bears and changing pads ready to go now and a lot of flannel out being traced. We have kits for Angel gowns ready now also. 
• Want to make no-sew blankets?  We have fleece we can give you if needed. 

We have several more ideas that need to be refined for some specialty fabric we received or stretch fleece, stretch terry and stretch nylon like work out gear would be in.  If you have any ideas, let me know. 

Thanks to everyone who has already picked up or said they are working on items for our group!

Please stay healthy and be wise but most importantly remember that God has this all under control and is in charge.  When you start to get overwhelmed, pray.  

I love you all and miss you.

Stay in touch and let me know if I can help you stay busy.

Tina

Sew Thursdays Cancelled

It is with a heavy heart that we send out this message. Until further notice, we will not be meeting on Thursday mornings. As much as we don't want to do this, for selfish reasons, we feel it is better to be safe than sorry.  We have no projects that are time-sensitive currently.

So, in place of sewing Thursdays, we ask that you continue to charity sew from home. All of our patterns are on this blog, and you can use this time to lessen your fabric stash! If you don't have a fabric stash and would like to help with ours, just let us know, and we will put together all you need to get started on a project. 

If you want a new project ... consider joining in with our friends at O'Sewpersonal Fabric Shop's March Charity Sew. Their goal is 50 pediatric surgical caps for Children's Hospital of St. Louis. You can drop off your caps at the fabric shop inside or curbside or email us at busyhands4all@gmail.com for additional pickup/drop off arrangements.

Please stay in touch and healthy. We are going to miss you all but will see you soon.

Days for Girls Update from our International Chapters Director

From International Chapters & Teams Newsletter

2020 is shaping up to be a big year and I can't think of any group I would rather be working alongside!

With 2019's numbers finalized, I'm happy to share that Days for Girls has now reached over 1.7 million women and girls in 144 countries. This is a reminder that every single kit matters and each AWH education session is vitally important. Look at what we can achieve together!

Looking to 2020, at present we have 1,105 registered Chapters, Teams, and Clubs. 2020 here we come! Will 2020 be the year we reach 2 million?


With love,

Leyla Isin-Xiong
International Chapters Director
Days for Girls International