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Christina Reddish's son Thomas assists her while she makes masks for people. Courtesy photo -
Kathy Goff has made well over 600 masks to help protect people during the pandemic. Courtesy photo
Many people are banding together to help each other through the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are delivering groceries and supplies to the elderly and immuno-compromised, and some are the EMTs, RNs and doctors helping the infected patients.
Some helpers are doing what they can to help the ones on the front lines, and also anybody else in need.
Christina Reddish is from Dallas, Texas, but currently resides in Madill, Okla. Her typical job is a Barista at Starbucks, but is using her skills to help in the pandemic. The married mother of two began making masks for a single request, then it snowballed from there.
“I first started making them for the local nursing home when they sent out a request for them,” Reddish said. “It seemed to expand from there. I offered them to immunocompromised people I knew, and elderly friends and then they told their friends and so on. So, I guess you could say word of mouth.”
Reddish said it takes approximately 35 minutes to make a mask; when her children help, it speeds up the process. She said to date, she has made 84 masks, but she currently has a two-day waiting list. She expects that number to multiply ten-fold.
Reddish does not expect any compensation for the masks, all she asks is to pay it forward somehow.
“I am just doing the only thing I can try and help people stay safe as possible during this time,” Reddish said.
Kathy Goff is another trooper making masks for anybody in need. She was born in Muskogee, Okla., but has lived in Mead for the past six years. She is retired from the Texas Department of Agriculture and makes quilts on consignment on the side.
The grandmother of six said necessity was what started her crusade.
“There’s a need and I’m blessed to be able to help,” Goff said, “I have fabric.”
Goff said she started making masks on March 26, and it takes her approximately 15 to 20 minutes to make one.
She said she is not sure of the exact number of masks made so far, but it is a large amount.
“We stopped counting at 600, but when this is over, we will add them up,” Goff said.
Goff said she does not charge for the masks, even though she has received a few boxes of Kleenex.
Goff noted that even though it sounds cheesy, she really likes helping others.
“It makes my heart happy to help others who are in need,” Goff said. “This may sound corny, but every night before I say my prayers, I ask myself what I did for somebody else today. If I don’t have a good answer, I don’t get a good night’s sleep.”
Goff also wanted to give a shout out to the ones who are helping her meet the demand for the masks.
“I am not doing this by myself,” Goff said. “My sister Debbie Davenport, my friends Pam Duffy and Vicki Fridle and Lulu and Hazel Quilt Shop are all pitching in to make this happen. I simply couldn’t do it without them. My sister works at CannaStop and they gave her the week off to help.”
Both Reddish and Goff can be found on Facebook to request possible masks.