LI Coronavirus Heroes: Moms Making Masks

LYNBROOK, NY — As Long Islanders practice social distancing and make personal sacrifices as part of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, many look to those on the front lines as inspiration. Patch will be highlighting Long Islanders who are going above and beyond in their work and community to help during the COVID-19 health crisis.

Leslie Elsner from Comamck nominated the two co-founders of a group called "Moms Making Masks," which has grown to 800 volunteers across Long Island. Lauren Berger Franklin, of Lynbrook, and Jennifer Frank, of East Rockaway, organized other local mothers who were either out of work or stay-at-home moms to help create handmade masks and buttoned headbands that ease the strain on healthcare workers ears, from wearing PPE all day.

Within a few weeks, the Facebook group grew to hundreds of volunteers in both Suffolk and Nassau counties. Elsner says they donated over 2,000 masks so far to Long Island hospitals and directly to essential workers.

"No resume needed: anyone with a philanthropic spirit who can donate fabric, wash, cut, iron, sew, button or deliver is welcome,"the group, Elsner said.

Volunteers spend their days washing, cutting and ironing donated fabric; sewing masks; and collecting headbands, buttons, and other material to create the headbands that have been requested by many frontline workers to cushion the strain of long hours of wearing protective masks, Elsner explained.

"This is Long Island at its best," she said.

"Taking care of one another, strangers coming together with people we have never met before. Many of us have children that are learning not only basic sewing skills, but most importantly empathy, community and taking this uncertain time to find the silver lining by helping those in need while we shelter in place."