SAGLE — A Sagle family is making sure the community is covered during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Johnson family has made by hand more than a thousand face masks and is offering them to anyone who needs them.

Trina Johnson said the project began with making sure local veterinarians, who passed off their personal protective equipment to front-line healthcare workers, had face masks. Word spread about the mask-making endeavor and people began contacting the family about the need for masks.

“So we jumped into mask making with both feet and the other two kiddos joined in the making,” said Johnson.

In four days, the family produced nearly 800 masks. By day six, they had given away more than 1,000 of them.

The Johnson family, which operate a community-oriented farm called Maker’s Long Acres, can produce 100-200 masks a day from the kitchen of their cramped farmhouse.

They are also adding a special touch — prayers and a blessing for safety — while sewing machines whir away.

The Johnsons have been making the masks available to hospice, healthcare, nursing homes and members of the general public by leaving them at the farm’s front gate, which provides for social distancing.

“We bag them, write the names on a tag and set them on a little shelf out by the driveway and when it’s convenient folks can come and get them,” Johnson said.

The Idaho Transportation Department saw a social media post offering the masks. The Johnsons and their three children — Hannah, Harvey and Raye — filled a 100-mask request within 24 hours. The delivery was enough to protect all of the operators in North Idaho with masks to spare, according to ITD.

Johnson said it’s been a joy to do this for the community.

“In times like this a compassionate community has the opportunity to shine and North Idaho is shining like a northern star,” she added.

Johnson said they will keep making them for as long as they are needed. They have the supplies and Johnson said farm life allows for time to sew.

Those who need masks can reach out to the Johnsons via their farm’s page on Facebook or by calling 208-520-9563.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.