It’s a supply and demand story. The supply on masks was running low at MercyOne North Iowa at the Mason City Clinic and Angel McAllister, of Manly, a patient coordinator in the Ear, Nose & Throat department is also a thoughtful, creative, and fast sewer. To date, Angel has sewn 80 masks for her ENT department physicians, nurses, administrative staff members, plus neighbors, and colleague’s and friend’s children.
Angel said, “About two weeks ago we were worried about running low on masks for everyone in my department (ENT) and so I started sewing masks to be helpful. I began by using scrap materials around my house, and then I bought material on clearance. Initially it was just for my department, but then people from other parts of the clinic have asked for them, neighbors are asking for them. People want to pay me for them, but I don’t want any money. I am just trying
to help.”
Angel likes to customize masks to people’s interests; for instance sewing a John Deere mask for ENT physician Phillip Lee, MD who loves their tractors, and for Tim Dettmer, MD, a car enthusiast, a mask with a Corvette on it, and she is making children specific masks for the little ones.
