NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER - Hatter Pam Robertson-Rivet shows off a couple of masks that will be donated to The Mustard Seed while in her apartment Saturday.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, members of the community are stepping up and offering their talents to help those in need.
The Mustard Seed contacted Pam Robertson-Rivet, who is known for her work with Quilts of Valour in Medicine Hat, recently with a request for 1,000 handcrafted masks to keep people safe.
Robertson-Rivet accepted the challenge and reached out for help. She has formed a super team of sewers that will put all 1,000 masks together in a short timeframe.
“The first charity reached out to me and asked if we could do 1,000 masks,” she said. “I put a message out to the ladies and we’ve been trying to get these done as quickly as possible.”
Robertson-Rivet’s team goes by the Ladybirds’ Quilting Club and it makes large quilts for serving and retired members of the Canadian military.
Now, the group has shifted focus to two types of sewn masks, which take about 37 minutes to complete per mask.
“Once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to do – you just need to get your pattern down,” she said. “We’re getting the material from our stashes – we call this stash-busting. Some of the fabric stores locally are trying to help, too.
“We’re all finding creative ways to get these together.”
As team members complete masks, Robertson-Rivet picks them up from their mailboxes or front steps.
On top of helping The Mustard Seed, the Ladybirds’ Quilting Club is also making masks for a number of local veterinary clinics.
“As this drags on, more and more places are starting to need these masks,” said Robertson-Rivet. “Places like veterinary clinics know they won’t be the first to be restocked with masks, obviously the hospitals will be at the top of the list.
“This is a creative way to offer a bit more protection to workers.”
Robertson-Rivet says she and the rest of the team making the masks know they are not the same as medical grade masks.
“The N95 masks are 95 per cent effective – these sewn masks won’t offer that protection,” she said. “However, two layers of quilting cotton sewn together is a lot better than not having anything on.
“Going out with a totally exposed face isn’t safe for people in many professions.”
The Hatter says the masks are washable, and need to be washed after use. People should avoid constantly touching and adjusting the masks, to help stop the spread of germs.
Robertson-Rivet says she does have a connection to The Mustard Seed.
“Years ago, maybe 20, my mom would make scarfs and donate them,” she said.
Robertson-Rivet says there are about six people sewing locally for the cause, while a few in Calgary and Edmonton are also chipping in.
“I think as this drags on, more and more people are going to want to do something, anything to help others,” she said. “For us, this is what we know and what we do best.
“We’re all stuck inside with nothing but time, so it definitely felt right to help out with this request.”
Anyone looking to help the cause can call Robertson-Rivet at 780-232-0083.
