Mask making in full swing in Vicksburg and Warren County

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All over central Mississippi, folks with sewing machines are staying busy sewing home-made medical masks to aid health-care workers and first responders in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

The effort was apparently spawned by a social media post. Dr. Laura R. Vick, a general surgeon at the University of Mississippi Medical Center put out a plea for assistance along with guidance on how to make the masks. The industry standard N95 masks have been in short supply nationwide.

On Tuesday a plea for masks came from Warren County Emergency Management Deputy Director Tracey Porter, and several groups answered the call.

There is some debate as to how effective the masks will be in preventing exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Vicksburg Fire Chief Craig Danczyk plans to instruct his personnel to use the cloth masks over the N95 masks whenever possible as an added layer of protection.

Becky Chennault owns Monogram Creations on South Frontage Road in Vicksburg. With business at a virtual standstill, the retired schoolteacher loaded her sewing machine and went to care for her grandchildren in Brandon. Sewing masks has given her a project to pass the time.

Our own Robyn Lea, along with her husband, Scott Posey, and her mother, Margo Martin, have joined the effort. Susan Beard, recently featured in our “Caring Shirts” feature, has teamed with Kathy Evans Perrine, and they reportedly have three machines going.

Annette Kirkland and the VenuWorks team at the Vicksburg Convention Center took Thursday as an opportunity to make masks.

These are just a few of the people of Vicksburg and Warren County who are coming together in the face of adversity to make a difference.

To donate supplies contact Susan Beard at 601-415-3936 or Kathy Perrine at 601-415-6454. If your facility needs masks, please contact Tracey Porter at Warren County Emergency Management at 601-636-1544.