A local designer who also specializes in furniture refinishing has been making medical masks to help protect people from coronavirus.
Samantha Burns, owner of Rekindled Furniture & Home Decor in Sebastian, wanted to do something positive in the community since much of her regular business canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Burns is putting a lot of fabric scraps to use by creating medical masks for the public and those who are working the frontline in the medical field.
The designer has a donation drop off point for materials collection in front of Woody’s BBQ. She also started a fundraiser to help with the costs.
“I’ve been getting surgical fabric from hospitals to use as liners for the masks so they can be used in ICU and surgery,” Burns told Sebastian Daily.
Burns recently delivered 150 masks to senior living facilities, nurses, and local clinics. She’s had people help her with donations and offering to help sew. The support has been great, she said.
Burns has made over 1,000 masks so far, and has 500 on order. Donations have helped her in buying more supplies.
She says the masks are helpful even if people are not showing symptoms because they offer 2-way protection. Some countries in Europe demanded people to wear masks, and soon after, the number of COVID-19 cases in those countries dropped.
“So many people still need them. I’m in contact with other people making masks, and between the four of us small makers, we can make over 5,000 for medical, first responders, store workers, home health, and senior assisted living,” Burns said.
If you would like to help with the masks, send a text to Samantha Burns at 772-766-3285.
“Also, everyone is asking about prices. I’m asking $5 donations, but trying to get medical and front line staff covered for free,” Burns said.
