Thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who responded to our call for help with the local mask-making effort. Finger Lakes ReUse proudly partnered with the Tompkins County Health Department, TST BOCES, the Tompkins Chamber of Commerce, Tompkins County Public Library and local mask makers and entrepreneurs in April and May to provide enough fabric to produce thousands of reusable masks for local essential businesses.
For 3 weeks ReUse volunteers and staff sorted through nearly 2 tons of textiles, pulling fabric usable for making masks at the new ReUse Community Hardware.
We also engaged a team of volunteers to sew masks (our ReSeamsters!), knowing that our staff and volunteers would need them when the stores reopened. These amazing mask makers produced and donated masks to protect our ReUse community, exceeding our goal of 500.
A special THANK YOU to the Mall Dry Cleaner for their generous donation of washing an estimated 1,500 lbs of fabric at no charge and to Angelo Dry Cleaners and Laundry who washed finished masks throughout this process.
Some photos of masked heroes at ReUse (photography by Carolyn Tomaino and Sean Campbell):
We are so very thankful to the following people:
Mask Makers:
Beth Anderson
Judy Barringer
Pam Fairbanks
Kathy Krafft
Lynn Leopold
Barb Dewall
Sue Dozoretz
Ellen Palm
Carolyn Tomaino
Valentina Yalanzhi
Harvesters (sorters, cutters and baggers):
Shelly Ahart
Gary Bercow
Patty Brown
Wendy Day
Evan Kurtz
Tracy Kurtz
Louise Henrie
Lynn Leopold
Steve Pacenka
Tracy Sault
Barbara Schmidt
Lorraine Sinclair
Michelle Stuhr
Denise Sullivan
Mark Sullivan
Vicki Terry
Joshua Torres
Thanks for wearing your masks!
Finger Lakes ReUse remains committed to protecting our staff and community by requiring that masks be worn at all times in our stores. We’re so grateful that you, our devoted shoppers and supporters, have been right there with us, by wearing your masks, keeping safe distance, and signing up for shopping by appointment. Thank you! To those who have shared your relief that we have reopened, we are equally delighted to see all of you again! Let’s keep each other safe, we are in this together.
Did you miss the boat or are you still going strong?
Fabric (sheets and t-shirts, primarily) are still available to volunteer mask makers. If you are interested in picking up a bag, please fill out this form and a bag will be set aside for you at the Ambassador desk at the Ithaca ReUse Center (214 Elmira Rd). We continue to accept donations, as does the Department of Health via the So Sew Many blue boxes throughout the county.