Jenny Nicol has been making the masks for about two weeks. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

COVID-19

La Ronge resident making free masks to distribute to public

Apr 15, 2020 | 12:53 PM

La Ronge’s Jenny Nicol has made nearly 400 masks and donated them to local residents free of charge.

She’s been making the masks for about two weeks now and she’s received many requests for them. Nicol has been using material left over from other projects to make the face coverings, as well as fabric given to her from a friend, and elastics donated by the Lake Country Co-op.

“I know this is a very scary situation we are all in right now and I wouldn’t want to see anybody get hurt or even worse from it,” she said. “I just want to help when I can and I know not everybody has a mask. There’s some sick people out there like the elderly and some young ones.”

The masks are not medical grade nor suited for the medical profession and Canada’s Health Officer has said masks do not eliminate the necessity to continue social-distancing practices of being at least two meters from another person.

While one mask takes Nicol less than 10 minutes to make, it initially took her one hour to stitch together the first one. It then took her a bit of time to perfect the masks, so it would fit around the face of the user without being too tight or loose. Nicol also makes them in different sizes and can make masks for children and adults.

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Nicol decided to distribute the masks for free because she believes everyone needs to come together and help each other during the pandemic. She sent some of her first masks to Fond du Lac Denesuline Nation to help protect some of her family members who work in the health field.

“We all need to help each other out at this time of need,” Nicol said. “Not everybody can use a sewing machine or know how to make a mask. I just wanted to help out.”

Anyone interested in getting a mask can reach out to Nicol on her Facebook page.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno