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100 million mask challenge going strong in western Washington

As hospitals across America grapple with a shortage of surgical masks, communities are stepping up to help. These are neighbors helping neighbors.

Providence Hospital launched a nationwide campaign to gather 100 million masks during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. 

Sonia Wooten never imagined she'd be sewing such masks. A retired Boeing worker, who now runs a fashion design company called Faye Woo's Signature Collection, it wasn't hard to pivot production. 

When Wooten heard Providence Hospital's requests for masks, she shifted focus.  

Cassandra Western and her three kids have a busy assembly line going of their own. They've already made and sent 100 masks to the hospital and are working on 50 more. 

Local group Seattle Makers is now creating masks and face shields, along with selling kits so others can join the movement. 

The volunteers acknowledge these products aren't approved surgical masks. But as the Centers for Disease Control has publicly stated, it's the last resort that is clearly better than nothing at all.

Providence Hospital just announced that manufacturing companies have stepped up to help on a large scale to deliver masks. Because of this, they say they no longer need people to sew at home. 

However, that is not necessarily the case for other hospital ls and care facilities. So until the supply catches up to the demand during this crisis, the volunteer sewers plan to keep stitching. 

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