The Vassallo family dining room has become a mask making shop. (VASSALLO FAMILY PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Alexandria Vassallo is worried.
The mother of four says COVID-19 makes her “nervous,” mainly because her youngest daughter is immunocomprised due to a medication called methotrexate, which helps her psoriatic arthritis.
To help her daughter stay safe, they are staying home, but Vassallo wanted to do something to help those who can’t stay home.
The Vassallo family sewed and donated these masks to Westfield Gas & Electric last week. (WESTFIELD GAS & ELECTRIC PHOTO)
Vassallo, a teacher at Westfield High School, saw that one of the school nurses had posted a request on Facebook looking for fabric masks for her spouse who is also a nurse. Wanting to help and get her children involved in the effort, Vassallo began sewing masks.
“We have four children; Isabella, 16, Matthew, 12, Brianna, 11 and Abigail, 7,” she said. “Since the kids were home, we figured it would be a good home economics crash course… and a good life skill for them to learn. It has continued as a passion to help others.”
The Vassallos have a system.
“We are a family team,” said Vassallo. “Each person has a job to do to help facilitate and make masks.”
Abigail helps iron the fabric and has learned how to do some sewing. Matthew cuts the elastic and other things needed for the masks. Isabella and Brianna put elastic on to the fabric. James, Vassallo’s husband, cuts all the fabric and will also sew the first step.
“I finish the masks by hand pleating and stitching it all together,” she said.
To maximize their efforts, the family has partnered with Mask Makers of Westfield.
Vassallo said they have had a great response from residents.
“We have also received generous donations from many people in our community donating fabric, elastic, thread — everything needed to make the masks. We are so very appreciative,” she said.
The Vassallos are able to donate the masks and are giving priority to “front line” workers.
“All the materials to make them have been given to us, therefore every single mask is given out at no cost,” she said.
The masks are made from 100 percent cotton fabric, some with elastic and some with ties. Vassallo said the group could use more mask makers, as well as donations of materials such as cotton fabric, 1/8-inch elastic and thread. She can be contacted through the Facebook page “Better than a Bandana Masks – Westfield.”
Vassallo is still teaching and her husband works as a gun smith at Savage Arms and is in the Army National Guard attached to the G3 unit at Hanscom Airforce Base. After their workday, and after their children finish their schoolwork, the family makes masks at night.
Vassallo began sewing as a child.
“I grew up watching my grandmother sew all sorts of items,” she said. “My current machine is about 20 years old. James learned how to sew through this project and our little one also has learned how to sew!”
Vassallo said it was an easy decision to put her skills to use making masks.
“Masks protect others. No one wants to be infected with COVID19,” she said. “We originally wanted to help protect our friends who are nurses. However, this turned out to be a bigger deal for us. We watched my husband’s old unit get activated and now needed masks. Police forces requesting masks… and our own city asking for masks.”
Vassallo urged residents wearing masks to remember to stay six feet from others.
“Although we are giving out masks, it is important to continue practicing social distancing. If you don’t have to be out, don’t go. Stay home and flatten that curve so we can all back to ‘normal’,” she said.
Daniel Rodriguez created these ear mask extenders on his 3-D printer. (MANDI RODRIGUEZ PHOTO)
For the general public who are not essential employees and want to wear a mask but cannot find one, one city resident whose family is out of work due to the coronavirus shutdown is trying to keep people healthy and safe while finding new income during the pandemic.
Mandi Rodriguez is also putting her sewing skills to use by making fabric masks.
“They are $6, but if people donate the material, they get their mask for free,” said Rodriguez, who received enough donations over the weekend to donate 20 masks to the Westfield Police Department.
Rodriguez’ masks have three layers of fabric with a pocket to insert a filter such as paper towels or a coffee filter. Because of a shortage of readily available elastic, Rodriguez was using elastic hair ties. She said to help the masks fit better, her husband Dan is making plastic ear mask extensions on his 3-D printer.
“Some people are selling these for $15 but he is selling his for $9, and if it breaks, he will replace it for free,” Rodriguez said, adding that “he is currently perfecting it.”
Rodriguez said they are keeping costs very low and are mainly just covering their material costs and time.
“We just want to help,” she said.
Anyone interested in purchasing a mask or ear extender should locate Rodriguez via Facebook.
