OTHELLO — Jenn Stevenson, director at the Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello, said she was late to the party when she started contacting people two weeks ago about helping with the shortage of masks for the community.

People with sewing skills around the Basin are making protective masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Talking with fellow quilters, Stevenson said she noticed they had already made a few deliveries of masks and could tell they were beginning to feel burned out.

Stevenson said she began asking questions and doing some research. Watching videos made by the Fabric Patch, a quilt shop in Ephrata, Stevenson said she started learning how to make the masks, and what materials were needed.

The Old Hotel director was already making arts and crafts videos on Facebook Live and decided to make one on the mask-making effort. She shared her initial video and message with a few community groups in Othello asking for help.

“I did a video and explained what the need is, what the target groups are, that we needed people to sew, needed financial donations, needed people who were willing to donate supplies, and what supplies we needed,” Stevenson said.

She also created the Face Mask Army of Othello group on Facebook as a place for sewers to communicate and share needs and concerns.

She began asking around on March 30 to find where the needs for the masks were, beginning with medical professionals and first responders in Othello. Stevenson called Othello Community Hospital to gauge where it was at.

“What do you prefer, how big are your needs, how many do you have right now, how many employees do you have?” Stevenson asked. “You’re not gonna scare me with a number.”

The hospital told Stevenson it had an immediate need for 100, and 200 would be better.

Stevenson contacted the Columbia Basin Health Association, the Othello fire department, police department, sheriff’s office and other groups to figure out their needs as well. She also asked that if anyone had masks that were damaged or broken to keep them to be repaired. Masks, Stevenson said, can range from $5 to $20 each.

“It’s easier and faster to repair one than to start a new mask,” Stevenson said.

Initial request numbers scared the quilters, Stevenson said, but they weren’t alone. In the first two days after making her first video post, about 15 people joined in.

“We’re probably up to, maybe, 25 sewers now, I don’t even know,” Stevenson said.

She asks sewers what materials they need and delivers supplies to their front door, or she leaves the supplies on her own doorstep to be picked up.

Stevenson stressed the importance of keeping this process safe as they look to help others remain safe. One person infected can have a large ripple effect in a closely contained group.

Three main focuses for the masks are breathability, durability and washability.

Stevenson said groups vary on their requests. Some organizations, such as the fire department, are more specific. Firefighters want masks with elastic as opposed to the cloth ties on the back, not wanting to deal with tying or untying when they’re at a fire, Stevenson said. Some medical professionals switch from an elastic mask to a cloth one during their shift once their ears get tired of the elastic.

“Our goal is to have every first responder, or critical population individuals, and medical professional, all have two,” Stevenson said. “One’s home being washed, and one they’re wearing or have one in their pocket or bag as backup if the one they’re wearing becomes a problem.”

Stevenson said she has no idea how many masks they’ve made or distributed so far.

The Old Hotel has donated between $500 and $600 dollars in supplies, much more than was originally approved, Stevenson said. People have also reached out, wanting to donate to help with the effort. Financial donations may be made out and mailed to the Old Hotel Art Gallery. Donations will go toward replacing funds put toward the effort, Stevenson said.