Egypt resident Mary McCauley-Siler is a member of Mask Force Sewing Community, formerly known as Masks for the Lehigh Valley, a group of sewers who are making personal protective equipment for those on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. McCauley-Siler is also making masks for people she knows personally.

“I am currently donating masks to individuals I personally know [who] are still at work: police officers, UPS drivers, physical therapists, pharmacists and home health aides,” McCauley-Siler said. “Mask Force Sewing Community distributes supplies to sewers, which, when returned, are distributed to local hospitals in the Lehigh Valley.”

McCauley-Siler’s only formal training, she said, was from eighth grade in a home economics class. However, she has had much practice over the years while sewing costumes for children’s theater groups like Stagemakers at Jewish Community Center and Pennsylvania Youth Theatre, where she assisted the lead costumer.

Her work on the masks started March 20. She is using materials she already has at home. Not having a big supply, she cut up a Thirty-One bag and used it as an extra layer of protection. McCauley-Siler gave her first six masks to her two brothers and her sister-in-law, who live in central Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

“They are all in the medical field and were reusing the limited supply of paper masks and N95 masks they had been issued,” McCauley-Siler said. “My brothers and sister-in-law were continuing to work in direct contact with patients/clients and were sterilizing and reusing masks. Although the homemade masks are not hospital-grade materials, they can be paired with a hospital-issued N95 to prolong the life of the mask and add extra protection.”

The next masks she worked on went to a friend who is on the labor and delivery floor at St. Luke’s University Hospital.

It takes less than 10 minutes for McCauley-Siler to make one mask, once she has the pieces cut out. Cutting the fabric takes her the longest, she said, but more practice brings greater ability.

“I’m definitely getting faster and more skilled the more masks I complete,” McCauley-Siler said.

As of press time, McCauley-Siler has made at least 30 masks for family and friends and at least 20 masks for Mask Force Sewing Community to be distributed.

Before McCauley-Siler begins a project, she washes all the fabric. She then irons, cuts, sews and irons again. The masks for Mask Force Sewing Community are put into resealable bags in groups of 10 and given to the distributor.

“I very much enjoy making the masks. I’ve learned a few new patterns, and I’m thrilled they are going to the hospitals to be used,” McCauley-Siler said. “My only frustration is our doctors, nurses, therapists and first responders do not have the supplies they need to do their jobs with reduced risk.”

For more information on Mask Force Sewing Community, visit maskforce2020.com.