‘Weston mask force’ is the creation of professional seamstress Laura Panter who put a team together at the start of lockdown to help with crisis and to benefit the community.
Weston-super-Mare Town Council gave her £250 for materials, good quality cotton fabric and elastic etc. This donation was through the Hope Church.
Studies have shown the masks are effective against the virus and are reusable as they can be hot washed. However, they are not PPE standard.
A team of forty stitchers and cutters made 5830 masks.
Laura says – “Any donations were a donation of choice, I always said that any pennies were appreciated. We gave to care homes, hospital wards, transport workers, postal workers, shop workers, primary schools, care in the community, vulnerable/high-risk individuals, residential for adults with learning difficulties and frontline support workers.