UPDATED: 10:00 a.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020
The Carbondale-Murphysboro Fabric Mask Response Team has now been nationally recognized for making over 10,000 masks.
On Tuesday, United States Congressman Mike Bost met with group organizer Mary Beth Aguilar. Aguilar said Congressman Bost was impressed by the way southern Illinoisans have stepped up to help those in need.
Bost met Aguilar at Turley Park and presented her with a copy of a Congressional recognition.
The team is now registered into the Congressional Record.
ORIGINAL STORY
JACKSON CO. (WSIL) -- A local group has donated nearly 10,000 masks across the region and around the world.
The Facebook group "Carbondale-Murphysboro Fabric Mask Response Team" has just over 200 members and growing. Since April, the group of volunteers has made more than 9,800 masks.
The group is spearheaded by Carbondale resident and retired Murphysboro Middle School paraprofessional Mary Beth Aguilar.
She said, so far, the masks have been donated to local hospitals, ambulance services, churches, and other facilities. Some of the masks have also been delivered out of state and overseas to Africa, Haiti, and Brazil. The group does not meet so volunteers can maintain social distance.
Instead, it's all done through three labeled bins located outside of the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale. Donations like fabric can be placed in one bin. Those fabrics and other materials are taken from that bin and used to put together a kit. The kits contain cut fabric with matching backs and elastic placed in ziplock bags, ready for sewing. Once the kits are complete to make 24 masks, they are placed in a second bin for volunteer sewers to pick up and finish. The finished masks are then dropped off in the third bin and ready for Mary Beth to count out for orders and then be delivered.
"It's wonderful how the community has come together at this time. It really does take a village, and I've been really impressed by all the volunteers and efforts and donations," said Mary Beth.
The group is currently working on masks for school administrators to give to students. Mary Beth said 625 masks have already been delivered to Unity Point school.
This has been a free service the response team has provided to the community and beyond. Mary Beth said she plans to continue as long as there's a need and as long as volunteers want to help.
If you would like to learn more about the group and how you can help, click for the Facebook page.
