Good deeds: Sew What provides masks for group homes in West Boylston

WEST BOYLSTON – Sew What, a local group, dropped off 50 face masks recently for two Open Sky Community Services group homes in West Boylston.

“Obtaining personal protective equipment has been challenging to many,” said Lorie Martiska, vice president of advancement for Open Sky. “Hospitals, community health centers, and also group living in environments such as what we operate. We’ve been asking both because we want masks for individuals, the people we serve when they go out into the community, but we’d also like to have them as a backup.”

The Sew What masks have been given to Open Sky clients in the group homes.

Martiska said Open Sky has a sufficient supply of surgical-grade face masks, which the staff wear. She said staff should only use a cloth face mask if they run out of the surgical ones.

Martiska said she learned of Sew What via Facebook and the Telegram & Gazette. She reached out to Sew What member Marilyn Sinibaldi, who got back to her right away and was able to provide the 50 masks very quickly.

“We’re just filling (requests) as we get them,” Sinibaldi said. “I have about 12 sewers that are all making masks and I collect them and distribute them.”

Sew What has been making masks since early March and has donated 1,600 face masks.