Do It For Yourself — and For Others: A DYI Mask Maker’s Guide

Below are YouTube guides for making cloth masks that are within most people’s competence — whether or not you are an accomplished sewer.

Now that masks are advised for everybody, there are not enough to go around, and people who are likely to need them most may be last in line. Read below how you can help.

But remember, these masks are just part of being smart about this virus. A handy reminder is attached below.

1. From the CDC, a T-shirt and rubber band mask DIY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPx1yqvJgf4 –

2. This one from an engineer — not only has clear directions on making a t-shirt masks, but also why you should: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVEVve-3QeM&feature=youtu.be

3. Here is another simple template to make a home-made mask for those of us who are craft or sewing challenged. https://blog.japanesecreations.com/no-sew-face-mask-with-handkerchief-and-hair-tie?fbclid=IwAR2bycP-lIRrN_jw40f-1CkvH8z-2eF4wzCk8q3wXnSQcIvFoiS37QTDCV0

4. This one is for people who can sew. They can be very colorful. They take about 20 minutes each once you get the hang of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tBg0Os5FWQ&feature=youtu.be

Be warned, however, that elastic bands are in very short supply in the Albany area. Consider making cloth ties rather than risking shopping in too many stores.

Help Our Neighbors: One thing we know for sure is that many people in the South End have the “pre-existing conditions” that are causing so many deaths from COVID-19. The reasons are not hard to see — poverty, poor housing conditions, lack of access to healthy food, medical services that often start and end with the emergency room. Add on top of that the South End’s heavy air pollution, which has been well documented by the DEC, and you have a toxic brew.

As Chris Churchill noted in a recent column, perhaps it takes a crisis like this to get people to realize the obvious. He quotes state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi of the Bronx: “This has put a spotlight on every area that we fail in… The foundation was already cracked, and this is crumbling it.”

As it happens, we know many of the people in the South End who do have medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus should they contract it. This is because of several health surveys conducted by The Radix Center in partnership with AVillage at Ezra Prentice and Creighton Storey Homes, and because of Trinity Alliance’s WALC program, which works with individuals and families at risk and assists them in dealing with their health problems and related issues.

By all means, make masks for yourself and your family. And please consider making more masks for people who need them. Contributions can be sent to AVillage’s office at 3 Lincoln Square. The office is staffed Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and other times by appointment. Please call our office at (518) 451-9849, or email avillageworks@gmail.com.