The Bedfordview Community Policing Forum (BCPF) recently launched the Bedfordview Community Mask Initiative, where 50-plus women volunteered to make face masks for essential service workers during the 21-day lockdown.
Bedfordview resident Jenni Smith, who is also the joint project coordinator of the initiative, started making masks before the initiative was launched.
“I started making masks on March 31 and really did not know where to distribute them and asked online if anybody knew who could benefit from them.”
Alison Grobbelaar, BCPF public relations officer, was the first to get in touch with Jenni.
“She asked if I could make 150 masks for the Bedfordview SAPS and BCPF. I advised it will take a while and I was running out of material, as I did not know before the lockdown we would be doing this.
“We needed material and sewers, and oh boy, did we get it,” said Jenni.
Alison proceeded to post about the initiative online and 50 women offered assistance with material, sewing, admin and logistics.
Jenni said most of the volunteers did not know each other and soon they discovered that some of them live on the same street.
“I love sewing; it is not something out of the ordinary for me, but more importantly, I want to help the less fortunate and try and make a difference,” said Jenni.
She expressed gratitude to every volunteer working to assist in the initiative, but more importantly essential workers.
“They are absolute heroes, from security officers to cashiers and even petrol attendants. I also take my hat off to the medical staff who are working non-stop,” said Jenni.
On how the masks are made, Jenni said two different colour pattern materials, preferably cotton, are sewn together with ties or elastic on the sides.
“The reason we have two different colours is so the person wearing it can know which side is always the inside. A person can get infected if he or she wears the outside inside by accident. One can also make allowance for a pocket for a filter to be slid in,” said Jenni.
She indicated the volunteers will make as many mask as possible, as there are many people who travel by taxi and need to be protected.
“If we could make sure every person outside has a mask and is protected, then we have achieved what we really wanted to,” said Jenni.
The first collection masks were donated to a medical facility for staff to be protected when travelling to and from work.
The next collection of masks made by the volunteers will be given to Bedfordview SAPS and the BCPF.
“I love the way friendships are made and how a community can come together when there is a need. We have so many people working for us in addition to the essential workers, now we can give back to them,” said Jenni.
Contact Alison Grobbelaar on 082 565 6018 or Jenni Smith on 083 414 7500.
