The public has been encouraged to wear face masks to help protect people around them, but those masks are in short supply.
The Embroidery Shop is assembling masks for the public and helping provide a revenue stream for small businesses that have been forced to close.
Although washing your hands, social distancing and staying at home are the recommended ways to combat the virus, owner Mindy Wills said that because a number of people still have to leave their homes, she and her employees want to do their part to help protect the community by converting their embroidery machines to begin sewing homemade three-layer masks.
These layers consist of a cotton fabric front and backing with embroidery stabilizer in between. Wills said that individuals could add more filters to their masks, by using paper towels or coffee filters.
A metal nose bridge helps to fit the mask to each individual’s face.
While they are not medical-grade masks, they will be effective in stopping droplets and some particles from reaching the wearer, Wills said.
“We’ve got orders for about 400 right now. Everybody’s wanting them,” she said.
Masks are selling for $5, or $10 for customized masks.
In addition to sewing masks, The Embroidery Shop is also holding a Small Businesses, Big Hearts fundraiser.
It allows citizens to shop online to help support their favorite small businesses in Snyder.
“This is something that printers are doing nationwide,” Wills said. “Any business that wants to participate, we will provide the artwork for their logo, and we’ll give them $10 from every shirt that sells with their logo. It helps them and it helps us.”
The fundraiser was meant to last only through early April, but has been so successful, the deadline has been extended to May 10.
Twenty businesses are participating, including Anytime Fitness, BARA’ Coffee and Pastry Shop, Bless Your Heart Boutique, Cardinal Cafe, Caterpillar Corner, Crossfit Snyder, Designs by Chelsea, Hair by Romana, Heiman Photography, Molinar Trucking, Outlaws Barber and Beauty Saloon, RIGJR Welding and Construction LLC, Shawnee’s Massage Therapy, Stay Sharp PEMF Therapy, Stevenson Real Estate LLC, Studio 92, T.B. Bond Emporium, Tumbleweed Wardrobe, Tx Street Society, West Texas Children’s Advocacy Center and Wild Heart Wellness Day Spa.
Wills said that The Embroidery Shop’s goal is to reach $1,000 before the fundraiser ends. She hopes that people will continue spreading the news of this fundraiser to help out businesses affected by the county’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order. Masks and other items will continue to be available through The Embroidery Shop’s website at http://tessnyder.com/embroidery_shop_designs/shop/home or by calling 573-5186.