It is on!!! A call was made, and a challenge has been accepted. Now is the time to sew, sew, sew — and what better excuse is there to sew when you can do it while making a difference! My niece’s best friend Mason called me asking for my help. He explained to me that his dad was a doctor in NM, and they are worried that they will not have enough masks for their patients. He sent me a video on how to make them and a PDF pattern template from the Turban Project; and he said other than giving blood this is the way you can help. I created the Good Karma Sew-A-Thon keep reading to learn more.

Let’s Make Masks

Now before the call, I was on the fence about making them. I have heard on the news that the disposable cheap masks do the healthy general population more harm because you end up touching your face more often. Making it possible to bring germs into your system quicker. (Know the facts – Click here to see what the CDC says about handmade masks. Click here to see what Deaconess Hospital has to say about handmade masks) I am a total worry wart, so making them wasn’t adding up for me; but if you think about it this way, they are for the patients that are already sick . . . Well that changes everything.

Originally, I had second thoughts because what if I am a vector that isn’t showing signs or even sick and don’t know that I am sick, and I spread germs . . . You guys, these are the things that keep me up at night! I asked if I should disinfect them before I send them, and Mason said that they will wash them when they get them. (But we should still wash them before we send them.) That took a big load off of my mind. So please, if you donate them locally, ask about disinfecting and washing, too. (Or maybe in your package write a note that says “please wash”.)

Click here for a tutorial on how to make the face masks.

Click here for a PDF instrucions on making the face masks.

Good Karma Sew-A-Thon

I pledge to make four face masks a day for two weeks during the Good Karma Sew-A-Thon. Hopefully, I can make more. I hope you will join me. The masks we will be making are those for the patients that the doctors are treating. And a last resort face mask for doctors. Just like toilet paper and hand sanitizer, there seems to be an overload of ordering on face masks leading to a shortage. These face masks help contain the spreading of germs to other patients in hospitals, and most importantly they protect doctors and nurses so they can be there to help those who need it. You guys this is incredibly important. Do you accept my challenge? Well, in case you are still on the fence (and because I love giving things away), I come bearing gifts.

The Face Mask Challenge

This Good Karma Sew-A-Thon is a challenge that will be active for two weeks. I will be giving prizes away every other day for a total of eight prizes. This is an Instagram challenge. Your account has to be public if you want to be eligible for a prize. I say this only because I will not see your photo if it is not public. You can change your account back to private after the challenge is over. Every time you post a photo of the face mask you made, include #goodkarmasewathon in your caption. This will get you an entry into the giveaway.

The more you make and post photos of, the better the chance you have to win a prize. And that is really the whole point. To make as many as you can for the health-care workers out there. I will only pull giveaway entries from the photos posted on Instagram in each two day time period. So, if you post a photo on the first day you are eligible to win the first prize. Then for the grand prize, I will pull from all the entries.

To qualify for a prize from the Good Karma Sew-A-Thon follow all of the sponsors (Havel, Riley Blake Designs, Oliso, Binding Babies, Fat Quarter Shop, and Hobbs Batting) and comment on their photos. They are so wonderful for allowing me to put this on. So send them some love!

The Prizes

Binding Baby mania – one for you and one for a friend
One of my quilt kits 
Hobbs Batting
Riley Blake Designs fabric bundle
Fat Quarter Shop gift card
Mini Oliso iron
A pink double sided cutting mat with rotary cutter

Grand Prize – A large Oliso iron, Havel rotary cutter and mat, a binding baby, thread, t-shirt, and Hobbs batting and fabric bundle.

FYI – In the event that companies might need to close locations due to local and state government leaders’ requests for possible shutdowns, please be patient and allow for generous shipping timelines and delays.

Where should you send them?

You can keep them local, find a location on the map below or mail them to Mason.

This is the address for Mason in New Mexico:
True Med Spa- Face Masks for Patients
2480 Roadrunner Pkwy, Suite B
Las Cruces, NM 88011
OR
True Essentia- Face Masks for Patients
121 Wyatt St, Suite 3
Las Cruces, NM 88011

If you have masks ready for donation here are a more location ideas. Dairy Max put this list together for me.

Drs. Linden, Linden, Swanholm, and Tilley
972-317-0331
Attn: Lori Griffith
2300 Highland Village Rd Ste#600,
Highland Village, Texas 75077

Tulane Medical Center
504-988-5711
Attn: Amy Lassiter
1415 Tulane Ave New Orleans, LA 70112 

East Jefferson Medical Center
504-503-4228
4200 Houma Blvd, Metairie, LA 70006

Ochsner Baptist
504-899-9311
2700 Napoleon Ave New Orleans, LA 70115

Swedish Hospital
303-788-5000
501 E Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80113

Rose Medical Center
303-320-2121
Attn: JulieHogan
4567 E 9th St Denver, CO 80220

Medical Masks for Bozeman
Kari Aberly
1-630-698-0547

Relief Crafters of America
lehrurbanhomestead@gmail.com
Attn: Kiza Moore
930 E Wesleyan DriveTempe AZ 85282

Here is a map where you can find locations that need masks. A website called Masks for Heroes created it. Click on the bubbles to find specific location information. Masks for Heroes is a great resource. If you are an organization that needs masks click here to add your information to the map.

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Thank you so much for joining in!! Good luck to you all.

To see more on charity project ideas click here.