File photo
File photo
The Southeastern Illinois College nursing family is doing its part in the fight against COVID-19.
SIC students, faculty, staff and retired faculty members are coming together to make masks for local health care facilities. With the masks considered one of the most prudent ways to at least slow the spread of the deadly virus, organizers plan to distribute them to residents in assisted living facilities. More than 300 cloth masks have been sewn together by the volunteers who are now seeking more supplies.
“I’m using donated material, other supplies I have on hand, and a sewing machine my husband bought me for Christmas,” SIC nursing secretary Kathy Volkening said. “I plan on making masks until I run out of material, so for probably another week or so."
Among those produced are 20 N95 masks, professionally produced versions that meet standards to filter out at least 95% of airborne particles.
The professional-level masks have been in severe shortage since the pandemic kicked into high gear and states across the country began enacting stay at home orders in hopes of mitigating the spread of the virus.
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