MASK PROJECT HELPS OUT
A mask project has brought together two community groups in a bid to meet local demand for correctly made face masks that will also help others.
The Rotary Club of Glenhaven joined forces with The Women’s Shed – Hills Shire to sell facemasks, to fundraise for community projects, at a pop-up stall in Castle Hill.
Last Friday morning volunteers sold around 700 masks at Castle Towers Shopping Centre before they ran out of the handmade triple layer masks with filter and nose wire. The key figure in the mask-making project has been Castle Hill grandmother Wendy Carritt who has made 4500 masks since March.
After distributing and donating 600 masks herself, Wendy teamed up with the Rotary Club of Glenhaven in March to get more masks delivered.
“It has been so rewarding for me to work on a project that helps the community. It kind of exploded but it has given me pleasure being of some help in these terrible times. Without Annie and Glenhaven Rotary Club, my masks wouldn’t have got out to the community. I am so glad it is now helping the club fundraise at a difficult time.”
Annie Bradley, Glenhaven Rotary Club President said: “Wendy is now known as “Wonderful Wendy” to our club and community members.
“We have delivered and donated 2000 masks Wendy made to pharmacies, aged care villages and vulnerable residents in need in the area, so far.”
After the second wave of the Pandemic, The Women’s Shed- Hills Shire approached Wendy to hold a “sewing bee” to teach volunteers to make masks and the idea for the pop stalls at Dural and Castle Hill were born with 845 sold between the two stalls.
The masked fundraiser raised more than $7000.
Annie Bradley said: “A massive thank you to Wendy who produced most of the masks, she was putting in over 16-hour days sewing in the last two weeks.”
Rania Salloum event manager for The Women’s Shed – Hills Shire said:
“It was an amazing and unprecedented reaction to our Masked fund raiser last Friday. We are ever so grateful for the support we received from The Hills Community and Castle Towers during these challenging times,” she said.
Annie Bradley said there would be more pop up stalls for people seeking to buy the $10, handmade triple layer masks, with internal filter and nose wire. All funds raised will go to community projects.
“We will be selling them at distribution points as they are made so check on the Friends of Glenhaven and Glenhaven Rotary Facebook pages,” she said.
