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MARION (WSIL) -- With many people wearing face masks, those with hearing challenges are having a harder time communicating. A Marion teen and her mom are creating face masks designed to help those who read lips. 

"I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up." 

Focused and very motivated, 17-year-old Sabryna Richards sits at her work station inside her home. Her mother says Sabryna is still learning to sew.

"Sabryna got her sewing machine at Christmas time, so this is not like a long-term process. She did take some classes at high school last year," explains Amy Richards.

The Marion native helps protect thousands of people across the U.S. one face at a time. She and her mom have made and donated more than 50 of what they call "communication masks" for those who may read lips.

"It was my mom's idea at first...so we kinda took off"

"Somebody asked if Sabryna can make one. I said, 'Well, we'll try.' So we kinda put it together. We played with a couple different styles, and this is the one that seems to not fog as much."

Amy says Sabryna can relate to the importance of having masks like these available.

"We don't have disabilities around here, do we? No, we have different abilities to be able to do things different things."

The duo says they've sent out dozens of specialty masks all over the country.

"They're going to start school in July. It's for the teachers that work with deaf and hard hearing students, and so we have an order for 150 communication masks."

There's no charge for that order. The Richards are doing it for free.

"Has anybody bought a mask off of us? No, we donated every single one of them."

If you would like to donate to the family, or place an order, contact them through .