news
Masks Matter is a grassroots group that started out with four neighbors that were walking every day for fresh air and company practicing “social distancing”. Lisa Schreiber of Woodcliff Lake said she saw a video that people were sewing masks. She offered the idea to Fran Fegan, master seamstress of Woodcliff Lake and Suzi Gerace, designer/artist of Park Ridge who both love to sew. Bette Anne Sheganoski volunteered to donate fabric and it all began!
​
The first day I sewed a dozen masks and I realized there was no way I was going to be able to make a dent in this critical need. I contacted Sandy Carapezza from Valley Hospital Foundation in Ridgewood, NJ and she told me she had a goal of 20,000 masks. I knew I had to get to work organizing a team.
Local Artist Organizes Mask Production Effort
Park Ridge, March 31, 2020 – What started out as a personal effort to help healthcare workers has burgeoned into an area-wide campaign to produce masks in large numbers.
Local artist Suzi Gerace contacted Sandy Carapezza at Valley Hospital and learned that they were organizing a local effort to produce 20,000 masks. With the help of a friend, Lisa Schreiber of Woodcliff Lake, Suzi found a “how-to” video on YouTube and began sewing masks with master seamstress Fran Fegan of Woodcliff Lake and fabric donated by another Park Ridge resident, Bette Anne Sheganoski.
“The first day I sewed twelve masks and the second day I made 20,” said Gerace. “I quickly realized there was no way I could make a meaningful dent in the hospital’s need,” she added.
That’s when Suzi used her experience as a toy designer to organize a larger effort. She contacted Peggy Norris, a member of the Brownstone Quilters Guild, to arrange a donation of the 100% cotton fabric needed for the masks. Another friend from Westwood, Al Sachs, contributed enough elastic to make over 2,000 masks.
Now she’s reaching out to the community to ask for volunteers to get the production operation going. “We need people to sew and cut masks, and donations of fabric, elastic and floral wire,” she said. “If you know how to sew this is a great time to help others. Together we can help flatten the curve.” People are doing everything they can to help. Some are cutting fabric, wires, elastic and strings to help make up packages for the sewers. People are pulling their sewing machines out of their closets and dusting them off. If they don’t want to sew we have people that do. Whole families are recruiting their kids and loved ones to help with this project. The children can actually get volunteer credit at school for this project.
Park Ridge, March 31, 2020 – What started out as a personal effort to help healthcare workers has burgeoned into an area-wide campaign to produce masks in large numbers.
Local artist Suzi Gerace contacted Sandy Carapezza at Valley Hospital and learned that they were organizing a local effort to produce 20,000 masks. With the help of a friend, Lisa Schreiber of Woodcliff Lake, Suzi found a “how-to” video on YouTube and began sewing masks with master seamstress Fran Fegan of Woodcliff Lake and fabric donated by another Park Ridge resident, Bette Anne Sheganoski.
“The first day I sewed twelve masks and the second day I made 20,” said Gerace. “I quickly realized there was no way I could make a meaningful dent in the hospital’s need,” she added.
That’s when Suzi used her experience as a toy designer to organize a larger effort. She contacted Peggy Norris, a member of the Brownstone Quilters Guild, to arrange a donation of the 100% cotton fabric needed for the masks. Another friend from Westwood, Al Sachs, contributed enough elastic to make over 2,000 masks.
Now she’s reaching out to the community to ask for volunteers to get the production operation going. “We need people to sew and cut masks, and donations of fabric, elastic and floral wire,” she said. “If you know how to sew this is a great time to help others. Together we can help flatten the curve.” People are doing everything they can to help. Some are cutting fabric, wires, elastic and strings to help make up packages for the sewers. People are pulling their sewing machines out of their closets and dusting them off. If they don’t want to sew we have people that do. Whole families are recruiting their kids and loved ones to help with this project. The children can actually get volunteer credit at school for this project.
Mask Production is Rolling
Park Ridge, April 6, 2020 – Thanks to the great article last week in the Pascack Press
we got an outpouring of volunteers to help with our effort.
People are doing everything they can to help. Some are cutting fabric, wires, elastic and strings to help make up packages for the sewers. People are pulling their sewing machines out of their closets and dusting them off. If they don’t want to sew we have people that do. Whole families are recruiting their kids and loved ones to help with this project. The children can actually get volunteer credit at school for this project.
Yesterday Diane Discepolo, of Curtain Call, an interior decorator from Rivervale, sewed and delivered 35 masks to Valley Hospitals Foundation. Today she is cutting up bed sheets and T-shirts that are 100% cotton. There is a shortage of material. We are in need of ¼” or larger elastic. The wider elastic can be cut down. We can also use T-shirts cut into 1” strips for ties. The point is just get these masks cut and sewn and to the people ASAP. The current recommendation is that everyone wears a mask when they are out and about and to keep the 6’ social distance at all times.
Our Thrift Shop in Westwood, NJ closed two weeks ago. Vivien Woodford, the manager is donating any 100% cotton she has. Tablecloths, sheets, pillowcases, men’s and ladies' clothing etc. We are desperate to get these masks cut, sewn and delivered immediately. If you have any of these materials to donate or can cut or sew
Please let us know.
Vicky Gorelik of Window Walls and More in the Bronx has her sewers from her factory that she sent home to be safe sewing masks. They are on salary and this is a perfect project for them to feel like they are making a difference. She has the supplies shipped to their home and they are cutting and sewing masks.
Elaine Pontone, of Rockleigh, NJ has her whole family involved. She ordered rolls of Lacrosse lace strapping and is cutting them into ties for the masks because of the shortage of elastic. Everyone is being extremely creative and innovative in coming up with solutions to help make this happen. Suzi Gerace would like to thank everyone who has stepped up to the plate to help make this happen.
We are now a group called Masks Matter. Kim Ferrentino from Dynamic Health 101, of Woodcliff Lake, is helping to put together a website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram account to help get the information out there.
If you think you can help please email me at masksmakersbergencounty@gmail.com
Or call 201.248.5502.
​
Suzi Gerace has 40 years of experience as a toy designer, producing products made all over the world. Her designs include many iconic children’s characters, including Babar, Paddington Bear, Madeline, Beatrix Potter, Good Night Moon, Arthur and many others. You can learn more about her at https://www.linkedin.com/company/dream-makers-inc.
Local Artist Organizes Mask Production Effort
Park Ridge, March 31, 2020 – What started out as a personal effort to help healthcare workers has burgeoned into an area-wide campaign to produce masks in large numbers.
Local artist Suzi Gerace contacted Sandy Carapezza at Valley Hospital and learned that they were organizing a local effort to produce 20,000 masks. With the help of a friend, Lisa Schreiber of Woodcliff Lake, Suzi found a “how-to” video on YouTube and began sewing masks with master seamstress Fran Fegan of Woodcliff Lake and fabric donated by another Park Ridge resident, Bette Anne Sheganoski.
20,” said Gerace. “I quickly realized there was no way I could make a meaningful dent in the hospital’s need,” she added.
That’s when Suzi used her experience as a toy designer to organize a larger effort. She contacted Peggy Norris, a member of the Brownstone Quilters Guild, to arrange donation of the 100% cotton fabric needed for the masks. Another friend from Westwood, Al Sachs, contributed enough elastic to make over 2,000 masks.
Now she’s reaching out to the community to ask for volunteers to get the production operation going. “We need people to sew and cut masks, and donations of fabric, elastic and floral wire,” she said. “If you know how to sew this is a great time to help others. Together we can help flatten the curve.” People are doing everything they can to help. Some are cutting fabric, wires, elastic and strings to help make up packages for the sewers. People are pulling their sewing machines out of their closets and dusting them off. If they don’t want to sew we have people that do. Whole families are recruiting their kids and loved ones to help with this project. The children can actually get volunteer credit at school for this project.
Yesterday Diane Discepolo, of Curtain Call, an interior decorator from Rivervale, sewed and delivered 35 masks to Valley Hospitals Foundation. Today she is cutting up bed sheets and T-shirts that are 100% cotton. There is a shortage of material. We are in need of ¼” or larger elastic. The wider elastic can be cut down. We can also use T-shirts cut into 1” strips for ties. The point is just to get these masks cut and sewn and to the people ASAP. The current recommendation is that everyone wears a mask when they are out and about and to keep the 6’ social distance at all times.
Our Thrift Shop in Westwood, NJ closed two weeks ago. Vivien Woodford, the manager is donating any 100% cotton she has. Tablecloths, sheets, pillowcases, men’s and ladies' clothing, etc. We are desperate to get these masks cut, sewn and delivered immediately. If you have any of these materials to donate or can cut or sew
Please let us know.
Vicky Gorelik of Window Walls and More in the Bronx has her sewers from her factory that she sent home to be safe sewing masks. They are on salary and this is a perfect project for them to feel like they are making a difference. She has the supplies shipped to their home and they are cutting and sewing masks.
Elaine Pontone, of Rockleigh, NJ has her whole family involved. She ordered rolls of Lacrosse lace strapping and is cutting them into ties for the masks because of the shortage of elastic. Everyone is being extremely creative and innovative in coming up with solutions to help make this happen. Suzi Gerace would like to thank everyone who has stepped up to the plate to help make this happen.
We are now a group called Masks Matter. Kim Schultz-Ferrentino from Dynamic Health 101, of Woodcliff Lake, is helping to put together a website, Facebook and Instagram account to help get the information out there.
The masks Suzi and her crew are making are designed to be washable, and can be worn by workers who clean, feed and keep the hospital going, not by the medical staff.
If you think you can help please email Suzi Gerace at masksmatternj@gmail.com
Or call 201.248.5502.