MADISON, Ala. — Hospitals across the country are running low on supplies to fight COVID-19.
However, one nursing home in the Valley is pitching in to help by making masks. Heritage Assisted Living & Memory Care are making them to help local doctors.
"This is one that we've pleated and sewn in the process, and Liz is holding one with the ties," says Director of Nursing, Betsy Walker showing what they look like.
Registered nurse Liz Ellis started the prototype for these triple-layer cotton masks. She says they took a little time.
"Then I found out YouTube was my friend!," says Ellis.
Now it takes less time. She, Jannie Crouse and Betsy Walker are a part of an assembly line, with residents helping too.
"We have 15 minutes per mask and sew them together. Everything is already cut," added Ellis.
Three or four masks were created when they first started. Then, the number continued to increase.
"We had enough for all of our staff members here to have one, and we're owned by seven doctors," says Executive Director Jannie Crouse.
The masks they made were then given to doctors, which will then be given to Huntsville Hospital. So far they've produced about sixty masks.
"It feels really good. We're providing for our staff plus we're providing for others in need. So that's certainly a good feeling to have."
The CDC says homemade cloth masks should only be used as a last resort and paired with extra protective equipment. This is because the CDC says these masks do not work the same way as a N95 mask or medical mask.
But amidst a lot of bad news lately - the ladies say work like this brings more attention to the good things happening.
"There's so much negative news, this is a positive thing," says Walker.
"Yeah, you don't want to dwell in the negative because then it affects your health," says Ellis.
"And it gives our residents something to feel like they're helping the community," says Crouse.
"And then when they see us ... working and doing this it makes them feel confident in our care of them," added Ellis.
Heritage Assisted Living will provide these masks to doctors at Athens Hospital also.