Joliet Women Make Masks Available For Others

JOLIET, IL — Maria Arriaga used to make aprons. About four weeks ago, after seeing a video on her social media newsfeed, she began making masks.

“Before everything happened, she was making aprons out of fabric,” her daughter Alondra Arriaga said, translating for her mother, a Joliet resident. “She had a lot of leftovers. She also sells aprons and it’s the same exact fabric.”

Arriaga’s first masks were ones she made for herself, her children and her husband. When she watched the video on social media, she realized she already had everything on hand that she would need to make masks.

But then, she wanted to do more. Through a family friend, she had a connection to Italy. so she made a bunch of masks and shipped them to Italy.

This was in the early days. Since then, Maria Arriaga said she has made about 300 masks.
She has given away and sold the masks and most of the time, people have encountered her in a store and asked about the mask she was wearing and asked to buy one.

The situation was similar for Lindoria Storey, who also lives in Joliet. She also began making masks before coronavirus struck.

“I had a dental emergency last year and I needed one for myself,” she said.

Her design is different, but it is one she has stuck with as she transitioned to making masks to help protect people from coronavirus.

Other than herself, the first one she made was for her husband.

“He has COPD, he’s an Air Force veteran and a police veteran,” Storey said. “I made him one because he had gotten sick and I wanted him not to be compromised. But now, it is way important for him to have them anywhere.”

Storey is an essential worker, so she is making masks when she can find the time. Because she works in mental health, she sees her clients remotely now. However, she still has regular appointments and the paperwork that goes with those sessions.

“I am working,” she said. “I have tons of paperwork to do. I am getting ready to start a teaching position online.”

When she has time, though, she sews masks.

“I’ve gotten it down pat so it takes about 25 to 30 minutes to make one,” she said. “It covers your nose and your mouth and you put it around your ears.”

Storey will take custom orders for masks, but because custom orders might need specialty fabric or other design elements, the price of the mask will reflect that.

“I have African print fabrics, I charge a little more for that,” she said.

Storey has also been experimenting with smaller masks. She made one for her 4-month-old great-grandaughter. She is happy to take orders and her masks start at $10. To order one or to donate fabric, email her at lindoriastorey@gmail.com.

To order a folded-style mask with a pocket to hold a filter that Arriaga creates, call her at 815-207-9068 or email mariaarriaga74@icloud.com. She charges $5 a mask.

Both women are open to receiving donations of fabric and supplies.