With the need for personal protective equipment spiking throughout Northeast Wisconsin as the community continues to battle the outbreak of COVID-19, the Wisconsin Face Mask Warriors have stepped in to help meet the demand. The group, which sews face masks for essential workers and first responders in the health care industry, needs additional support to continue making and distributing the masks to those on the front lines.
To help support the efforts of Zone 4 of the group, which covers 12 Northeast Wisconsin counties, the Green Bay Packers and Cenex® have teamed up to donate $10,000, half of which will go toward Cenex® gas cards for those making deliveries to facilities in need. The other half will go toward additional supplies for volunteers making the masks at home.
The homemade masks, which are not medical grade, are used by hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living centers, fire and police departments, immunocompromised people and organizations serving vulnerable populations. The masks made by the Wisconsin Face Mask Warriors and other sewists help reserve available medical-grade personal protective equipment for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are coming into direct contact with those who are sick.
Businesses or groups that need masks can fill out a form to request supplies from the Wisconsin Face Mask Warriors. More information is available on the group's Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/WisconsinFaceMaskWarriors/.
Currently, 800 volunteers are helping sew masks, organize requests and deliver masks to those in need, but the Wisconsin Face Mask Warriors need additional help and support to continue meeting the need for masks throughout Wisconsin. So far, the group has distributed more than 128,000 masks throughout the region. To volunteer to sew or deliver or to donate supplies, please visit the group at facebook.com/groups/WisconsinFaceMaskWarriors/.
Those already making masks are asked to donate them at the Wisconsin Face Mask Warriors' local drop boxes:
- Green Bay: 1718 Velp Avenue
- Two Rivers: 7908 State Highway 147
- Black Creek: N4676 Hample Road
- Manitowoc: 2210 Woodland Dr.
- Door County: 7537 Baileys Harbor
