Donating masks to Vernon Homes

With instructions for sewing your own

We need masks now to protect our 120-person frontline team and residents. Masks of any type are appreciated, including homemade fabric masks.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has highly recommended that long-term care staff need to wear facemask at all times. Because our supply of disposable surgical masks is in critical supply, we are reaching out to friends to request donations of homemade reusable masks for use by our staff and residents.

Thank you to those who have already responded by donating 150 facemasks over the past few days. However, we will still need more that can be laundered and reused.

We do not have a specific facemask pattern or requirement, so please reference the section below from Dartmouth Mary Hitchcock Hospital in Lebanon NH.

Sewing fabric masks for donations

Join the national movement of volunteers who have started to sew masks. This generous outpouring is in response to the Center for Disease Control's guidance that fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted.

First, important infection prevention measures

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Have you been in contact with anyone suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
2. Do you have fever, cough or shortness of breath?

If you answer "NO" to both questions, then proceed with making masks. If you answer "YES" to either or both questions, please do not make masks; call your primary care provider for a risk assessment.

Instructions for making fabric masks

Materials

• 100% unused cotton fabric (front) – no metallic fabrics
• 100% cotton or cotton flannel (back)
• 1/8", 1/4", or 3/8” flat elastic, or 1/4” inch bias-tape

For specific dimensions refer to the written instructions (PDF).

Sewing instructions

• Video instructions: Instructional video from Deaconess Health System. 
• Written instructions: How to Make a Facemask (PDF)
• Related questions: see our Fabric Mask Making Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on D-H's Facebook page.

If flat elastics are not available, make fabric ties
Sew fabric ties on the mask, one tie on each of the four mask corners. The four ties should be approximately 1/4” width, sewn so there are no frayed edges, and approximately 15” in length.

Dropping off masks
First enclose masks in re-sealable plastic bags.

When

• Monday through Friday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Where
Vernon Advent Christian Homes
|61 Greenway Drive
Vernon, VT 05354

Additional information
Contact Carrie Desmarais at 802.254.6041.

Thank you!