MASK-MAKING GROUP IN NEED OF MORE VOLUNTEER SEWERS

The organizer of the Facebook group, Madison Mask Makers says before the mandate, she was getting requests for less than 50 masks, but in the last couple of weeks, that number has gone up to almost 800.

The shoals today.

A local mask making group says its seen a sharp increase in mask requests since the state-wide mask mandate went into effect almost two weeks ago.

Now -- the group organizer says its getting difficult to keep up with orders.

Waay 31's casey albritton is live with how just much of a demand this group is experiencing?

Casey?

The organizer of the facebook group, madison mask makers tells me before the mandate, she was getting requests for less than 50 masks, but in the last couple of weeks, that number has gone up to almost 800... "right now the demand is so high and we just don't have many people who know how to sew or can donate the time to do so."

Nhuchi khong is a volunteer sewer for the facebook group, madison mask makers--and says she is working as hard as she can to fill orders.

Nhuchi khong/ sewer "i takes me about 15 minutes to make a mask.

In an hour, i can only make four or five."

Organizer of the group, megan ehemann says they have less volunteers compared to the start of the pandemic.

Megan ehemann/ group organizer "when everything opened back up, people kind of dropped off sewing because it just wasn't needed as much."

And it's making things difficult... megan ehemann/ group organizer "we had a request for, one in particular, for 500 and it's been sitting there for two weeks and we are struggling to get that many together."

Both khong and ehemann say wearing a mask is still just as important as ever before.

Megan ehemann/ group organizer "we still need masks and if people are willing to donate their time, we still have a lot of fabric we can use."

Nhuchi khong/ sewer "taking the time to make masks is a special thing.

We have to have the heart to do so."

If you're interested in volunteering or if you need some masks, we'll have information on our website at waay tv dot com.

Live in huntsville, casey albritton, waay