'Wall of kindness': The selfless women making and donating coronavirus masks
A Victorian woman’s thoughtful act to provide free homemade face masks has gone viral after she shared her idea on a Facebook page dedicated to “kindness”.
Mel Mott said she felt “helpless” watching on as the state’s coronavirus cases continue to soar, reaching a new daily record on Wednesday with Premier Daniel Andrews announcing 725 new cases.
The concerning second wave prompted officials to require residents to wear masks whenever in public or cop a $200 fine.
Masks have also been highly encouraged in NSW and Queensland where COVID-19 clusters are common, or in situations where people can’t social distance.
“This was the least I could do,” Ms Mott wrote in the Facebook group ‘The Kindness Pandemic’, along with an image of masks she had made and place outside of her home for locals to take if they needed one.
Although Ms Mott said she lives on a quiet street, the masks have been going fast.
“Every time I have checked the box it has been empty, I live in Mildura so we're not right amongst it,” she told Yahoo News Australia.
The busy mum told Yahoo News she has been “inundated” with messages from people wanting to buy the masks but Ms Mott said she won’t be charging a cent for her creations.
“I don't want to sell them but I might make a few extras to pop in the post to people in Melbourne who have reached out,” she said.
“What a wonderful gesture that is so kind of you and I’m pretty sure there would be so many elderly who would appreciate one,” a person on Facebook replied.
“Sending lots of love and good vibes your way. I am in Sydney, this could have been us also and may well could be still. We are all with you, you’ll get through this,” a Sydney local wrote.
Wall of kindness
The idea is quickly spreading around Australia with other people handy with a sewing machine doing what they can to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Beth Crothers lives south of the Brisbane River and was inspired to make masks to give away after community transmission started growing in her area.
“I put up masks for people in need on a wall outside my house, 380 plus masks were collected over the course of the day,” she wrote on Facebook along with a photo of her ‘wall of kindness’.
Ms Crothers said the majority of the people collecting the free masks were unable to find them in stores or were on a low income.
“Most went to people who were refugees, immunocompromised, older, on low income or were commuters. All were scared and all could no longer find face masks,” she wrote.
She also shared another act of generosity by Caitlin Logarzo, who created a “fence of kindness” in her area and dubbed it “sew simple”.
The handy Brisbane local urged others in the Facebook group to do the same and share their ‘wall of kindness’ or give mask making a try.
“Can we make this a thing? Can we help our communities feel and behave with kindness? Please share your walls of kindness if you do decide to participate. It’s what we need right now,” Ms Crothers wrote and linked to a website with instructions on DIY mask making.
Masks for Aussies is a website helping people create their own face masks and also allows people who want to donate masks, PPE or materials to pin their location on a map for others in need to find.
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