Local Volunteers Sew, Craft and Create Homemade Masks to Fill Big Need

After sewing, crafting and creating, volunteers spent Saturday donating. Dozens of residents dropped off homemade masks at fire departments across the northwest suburbs. The masks will help protect those working and living in congregate care facilities, such as nursing homes.

Volunteers dropped off hundreds of masks at local fire stations on Saturday.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz initiated a push for today’s statewide mask drive.

“While homemade masks will not replace personal protective equipment, they go a long way in preventing the wearer’s germs from infecting others,” said Walz in announcing the statewide effort.

Fire departments from Maple Grove to Robbinsdale participated in the effort. The various fire departments had different ways they got involved. Maple Grove, for instance, arranged for bins to be placed outside each of the city’s five fire stations. Robbinsdale had two volunteers collecting masks at the city’s lone fire station.

In case you’re interested in making your own mask, the Minnesota Department of Health offers these guidelines.

Some cities had drop-off containers for masks outside of fire stations.

Brooklyn Center | Brooklyn Park | Crystal | Golden Valley | Maple Grove | New Hope | Osseo | Plymouth | Robbinsdale