Barb Hetzel sewing masks to give away to help stop the
spread of Coronavirus
But the community is beginning to take note, that the Hetzel
home is where you can get a free, donations are accepted, cloth face mask for
their protection against Coronavirus.
Barb Hetzel, better known of late as presenting and hosting
Democratic candidates for political office has been busy with another campaign.
Throughout the day this former registered nurse, has been sewing cloth masks.
“I make the masks because I am retired. I have not renewed
my nursing license and it keeps me home and gives me something to do,” she
explained.
She is now closing in on her 400th mask.
She put the message out on Facebook that she was making
masks to give away, after contributing several masks to Jones Memorial
Hospital. Since then, she has reported each day the number of masks she has to
give away at her front door. Practicing social distancing, people come to the
door and signal how many masks they need and the masks are placed in a basket
outside the door.
Although there has been some controversy as to whether such
masks work to prevent COVID-19 recent word from the CDC says wearing masks in
public does help to lower the risk of spreading the Coronavirus. Speakers from
other countries including South Korea which has quelled the virus give much
credit to wearing masks and social distancing to stop the spread.
Hetzel’s masks are made from free materials and elastic that
she has been given. She makes between 30 and 60 masks each day to give away.
“The masks offer some protection. They are to be used
whenever people absolutely have to go outside,” she said.
The Hetzels have four children who grew up in Wellsville,
graduated from Wellsville high and who are now grown and live out-of-state with
families of their own.
Hetzel said, “I plan to make the masks until I can’t make
them anymore or until I run out of materials or I’m too tired,” she said.
