Donated masks helping ministries breathe easier: #ChurchNeverStops

Employees and patrons of eight charities and one prison can breathe a little easier thanks to nearly 2,500 hand-sewn masks donated by local Catholics.

In the last three weeks, volunteers from parishes across the Lower Mainland have sewn masks out of donated cloth for charity workers whose services are essential but who lack personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lisette Natoc, a member of St. Matthew’s Parish and the Catholic organization Bukas Loob sa Diyos, said many charities are operating every day “in dire need of some sort of face protection for their patrons and their workers.”

The 2,500 masks were distributed to charities that offer meals and shelter: The Door is Open, Catholic Charities Men’s Hostel, Surrey Urban Mission, and five shelters run by the Lookout Housing and Health Society. Matsqui Institution, a federal medium-security prison, also received some of the masks.

“Most if not all [of these charities] have expressed that no organizations have offered help so far, given the fact that there’s a shortage of personal protective equipment in all sectors across Canada due to COVID-19,” Natoc said.

Grace Lee, a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Vancouver, received an email from her church community asking for help to sew masks. Though she didn’t have the skill, she contacted friends and an online hikers’ group to find people who did.

“Christians and non-Christians alike chipped in their limited resources. A sewing team of 11 ladies from St. Francis Xavier Parish and Corpus Christi parish has been working unceasingly to produce cloth masks,” though some still work full-time jobs, she said.

In one week, these 11 women produced 521 masks. They were donated April 14.

“Acts of kindness are snowballing!” Lee said. Now a group of seven volunteers has made it their goal to produce 800 cloth caps for employees of care homes.

The sewing initiative, which Natoc calls MaskForce BC, has partnered with a few local businesses for donated fabric and volunteer sewing, but it is still looking for help.

“Recognizing that every one of us has our own unique skills and abilities, we are hoping that we can pool our efforts and resources together so we can reach out to some of the most vulnerable groups in our society by helping them protect themselves” and in “slowing the spread of COVID-19.”

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, has encouraged Canadians to wear non-medical masks in situations “where social distancing is difficult to maintain.”

“If you can get a cotton material like a T-shirt, you cut it up, you fold it, and you put elastic bands around it - this is a non-medical facial covering,” she said April 6. 

Due to shortages, she said medical face masks should be reserved for use by health care professionals. 

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has said masks should be used by people who are sick to “help in containing your own droplets and protect others,” but they “will not protect you from COVID-19.”

It warned wearing a mask can give someone who is not sick a “false sense of security” and any non-medical face coverings should be used in combination with other preventative measures, including washing hands and observing physical distancing.

For homemade masks, the BCCDC suggests using cotton material, ensuring the mask fits snugly over nose and mouth, cleaning or changing masks often, and washing hands before and after changing a mask.

The Canadian government has also required homemade masks be made of at least two layers of fabric and be changed as soon as possible when damp or dirty.

To join the local mask-sewing effort, email [email protected].

Food banks, charities not forgotten

Catholic students are also finding ways to serve charities and those in need.

Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary School typically prepare 300 sandwiches to donate on the first Sunday of each month to the Catholic-run drop-in centre The Door is Open.

But this April, school was closed, classes were held online, and students practicing social distancing were not about to gather in a large group to buy groceries and produce sandwiches.

So the call went out for donations at a curb-side drop off at the school. Within one hour on April 5, the community had dropped off 900 sandwiches and 500 desserts.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our parents, students, and alumni,” said principal John Campbell. “I think this speaks to the caring community of North Shore families to step forward and help others during a crisis.”

Meanwhile, families of St. John Paul II Academy in Surrey heard through the school that the Langley Food Bank needed non-perishables.

So, when parents arrived at pre-arranged times April 3 to pick up packages from teachers for distance learning, they brought along a few cans of food for the food bank.

In one day, the school collected donations of more than 200 kilograms of food.

“It is important that we remember at this particular time there are people being impacted by COVID-19 in ways that are different from the students themselves," said principal Mich DesLauriers.

Some Lower Mainland food banks are feeling the pinch as the number of donations drops and the number of those who rely on them rises.

“It is an important lesson for our students that we have a responsibility to assist others in time of need,” said DesLauriers.

Serving businesses who serve us

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on the economy, including businesses that serve the Catholic community.

As one way of helping owners and employees who are suffering, The B.C. Catholic is publishing free business listings so owners can let Vancouver’s Catholic community know they’re still operating and eager to serve. Contact [email protected].