Newman Regional Health: We can use your help with mask donations

We are asking local community members for their help in donating sewn face masks to help curb the nationwide shortage faced by most all healthcare organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interested individuals can help by sewing face masks for patients out of fabric. Patient masks are required to be made of 100% cotton and 100% flannel. In early May, we observed the need for large adult masks, with a wider cloth panel or longer ear loops.

Anyone who would like to help, or has questions about sewing the masks, is asked to contact Newman Regional Health’s Volunteer Coordinator, Deborah Storrer, at (620) 343-6800 x22525 or dstorrer@newmanrh.org. Requirements for the mask and a preferred pattern can be found on this page.

A centralized location for pick up and donations has been made available by Emporia Main Street from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. Community members are instructed to use the clear garage door on 8th avenue, next to the butterfly mural. Please call (620) 340-6430 or email main.street@emporia-kansas.gov prior to pick up or drop off to make arrangements.

Upon donation, the masks will be run through the sterilizer before being passed out to patients and staff to ensure there is no infection risk from an item that is being made in a home as opposed to a regulated factory. The face masks will be given to patients with symptoms of respiratory illness to help stop the spread of disease. As COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets, these items are necessary for the hospital and other healthcare settings to keep everyone safe.

Ester Knobloch, MLS (ASCP)CM, Infection Preventionist and Microbiology Supervisor at Newman Regional Health, says, “As hard as it is that we’re in this position, I’m excited to see how this community project goes. I think it will be a positive way for community members to pass time and feel good about themselves while maintaining social distancing. A two-fold way to stop COVID spread; mask for the patient and distancing for the person sewing!”

We appreciate everyone who has made masks and donated them to the patients!

How To Make Face Masks

CLICK HERE to download the instructions in a printer-friendly format

Adult Face Mask Sewing Instructions

Size 9 x 6-inches (Large Adult sizes – 11 x 7)

Materials Needed:

  • One 9 x 6-inch piece of 100% cotton fabric
  • One 9 x 6-inch piece of 100% cotton flannel for the backing
  • Two 7-inch lengths of rope elastic with a knot tied at each end (1/8- and 1/4-inch flat elastic, twill tape, bias tape, hair ties with elastic, hair bands with elastic, non-silk ribbon, undergarment or jewelry elastic, loops made of 6” cloth strips, and fabric draw strings will also work. NO rubber bands or Ace Bandages for elastic or added embellishments, our sterilizing equipment does not support them. Also, please do not use Pellon Decor Bond or non-woven interfacing. For Large Adult please make the rope elastic 8 inches long.)

Use 1/4-inch seam allowance

Steps:

  1. Place the right sides of cotton fabric together.
  2. Sew across the top.
  3. Sew across the bottom, leaving about 2-inches in the middle open.
  4. Tuck the first elastic in-between the two fabric layers.
  5. Pull the first end out until it is even with the edge of the fabric and pushed up against the top seam.
  6. Sew the elastic into the corner with the knot out. Backstitch a few times to hold the elastic in place.
  7. Pull the other end of that same elastic out at the bottom corner. Ensure it is laying flat and is not twisted.
  8. Sew down the remainder of the side and across the elastic. Backstitch to tightly secure.
  9. Repeat steps 5-8 with the second elastic on the opposite side.
  10. Turn inside out so right sides of the fabric are facing out.
  11. Press with Iron
  12. Pin two 1/2-inch pleats on each side of the mask, making sure the tucks are in the same direction.
  13. Sew down each side of the mask to secure the pleats.

Child Face Mask Sewing Instructions

Size 7 ½ x 5-inches

Materials Needed:

  • One 7 ½ x 5-inch piece of 100% cotton fabric
  • One 7 ½ x 5-inch piece of 100% cotton flannel for the backing
  • Two 7-inch lengths of rope elastic with a knot tied at each end (1/8- and 1/4-inch flat elastic, twill tape, bias tape, hair ties with elastic, hair bands with elastic, non-silk ribbon, undergarment or jewelry elastic, loops made of 6” cloth strips, and fabric draw strings will also work. NO rubber bands or Ace Bandages for elastic or added embellishments, our sterilizing equipment does not support them. Also, please do not use Pellon Decor Bond or non-woven interfacing.)

Use 1/4-inch seam allowance

Steps:

  1. Place right sides of cotton fabric together.
  2. Sew across the top.
  3. Sew across the bottom, leaving about 2-inches in the middle open.
  4. Tuck the first elastic in-between the two fabric layers.
  5. Pull the first end out until it is even with the edge of the fabric and pushed up against the top seam.
  6. Sew the elastic into the corner with the knot out. Backstitch a few times to hold the elastic in place.
  7. Pull the other end of that same elastic out at the bottom corner. Ensure it is laying flat and is not twisted.
  8. Sew down the remainder of the side and across the elastic. Backstitch to tightly secure.
  9. Repeat steps 5-8 with the second elastic on the opposite side.
  10. Turn inside out so right sides of the fabric are facing out.
  11. Press with Iron
  12. Pin two 1/2-inch pleats on each side of the mask, making sure the tucks are in the same direction.
  13. Sew down each side of the mask to secure the pleats.

Thank you for partnering with us to protect the health and safety of our community!

CLICK HERE to download the instruction in a printer-friendly format

Connect With Us

Newman Regional Health
1201 W 12th Avenue
Emporia, KS 66801
620-343-6800
Newman Medical Plaza
1301 W 12th Avenue
Emporia, KS 66801