Surge in COVID-19 cases results in a surge of mask making

Production and donation of cloth masks in Havre has seen a drop off in the last few months of the COVID-19 pandemic with many private mask makers feeling burned out and local demand lessening, but the new surge in cases in Hill County has spurned many to start back up again.

"The number of infections is increasing here in our little town," said Shannon Heggem, administrator of the Faecbook group Help Needed To Sew Masks For Northern Montana. "... No doubt it's going to be spreading through our community so the need here is ongoing and increasing."

Heggem said many of her group's members felt a sense of emotional and financial drain, likely starting around the time of the state's phased re-opening began back in late April.

She said she suspects the burnout is, in part, the result of an understandable desire for things to return to normal and the every day emotional drain that living through this pandemic brings.

But since interest has been renewed in the wake of Hill County's recent surge, she's encouraging people and organizations who may need masks to get in touch with her group so they can interact more directly.

"We really need to know in our community, who needs masks," Heggem said.

She said she thinks the demand for masks in the community has dropped to some degree, but the new cases may change that, and she wants to encourage people to get more comfortable wearing masks in general.

"We want to get people in Havre excited about wearing masks," she said.

Many organizations in Hill County have accepted masks from private citizens and many of them are still well stocked.

Hill County Sheriff Jamie Ross said the department is well-stocked with personal protective equipment and stopped accepting donations some time ago.

"Getting things from the community has not been an issue," he said, "they've been very generous."

Hill County Extension Agent Tom Allen said his office still has masks available to the public and both their donations and requests have dropped considerably in the last few months, but that may well change.

"It has dropped off," he said, "I think we had one or two (requests) last week. But I suspect it's going to pick up."

Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Courtnage said the Havre Fire Department is also well-fixed for masks at the moment, but they wouldn't turn down donations, which he said dropped considerably around the time of Phase One of the state's re-opening.

"We were appreciative of those and we've used those," he said. "We haven't had any donations in a while, but if people were to bring them in, we would certainly take them. We can always put them into use."

Since the relative drop in demand Heggem's group has been addressing the needs of organizations in Montana and across the country.

"I've had people from all over the nation contact us," she said, "I've had hospitals in various cities reach out, law enforcement agencies ... there's a need everywhere for masks."

She said it's been especially incredible to watch members of her group addressing the needs of so many people who live so far away.

"It's incredible to see the sacrifices they've made," she said, "the time, and the hundreds and hundreds of masks that they make, that they're sending out of state to people that they will never meet, the human kindness is really beautiful to see."

Heggem said, despite the success of the group they have had to make some changes to their operation, in part due to the burnout experienced by its members.

She encouraged people and organizations to reach out to the group directly over Facebook and tell the them how many masks they need, in what size, and other preferences they have, so members can more easily address the specific needs people have.

She also asked those who request masks from her group to provide the materials need for them to be made.

Heggem said this is because many members are starting to be financially drained by their efforts, and she thinks that the financial burden is unfair to them given the already challenging economic situation resulting from the pandemic.

"The majority of our members who have donated masks have done so at their own expense," she said, "Not only have these people spent countless hours sewing masks, but they've done so with materials they've purchased on their own."

She said she's made efforts to streamline this process and can provide details about how to go about providing or purchasing materials for anyone who wants to request masks.

She also said while the group isn't set up to accept donations of money, they welcome any donations of materials.

Heggem said the pandemic has changed things for a lot of people, and the surge in Hill County might make the work of her group members and the community even more important.

"It's vital for us to work together more than ever," she said.