Approximately three dozen facemasks are necessary at the Open Link in Pennsburg. So far, that request has been answered anonymously. People have been dropping them off in a donation bin at the office, located at 452 Penn St., according to Kelly Chandler, its Development and Communications Manager.

            The masks are necessary for the staff and volunteers to protect themselves and the public from COVID-19. Despite efforts to follow social distancing directives, representatives are coming in contact with the public during Meals on Wheels deliveries and during food pantry pickup, as well as other times, according to Chandler.

            "It's simply us trying to do our part to minimize the spread," she wrote in an April 6 email message.

            One Upper Hanover resident started making masks two weeks ago because she noticed others were doing it. Now, Gail Schmoyer is producing approximately 70 masks per week.

            "The materials are just lying around," said Schmoyer, 62, who lives in the Palm section of the township.

            In between taking care of her four grandnieces – ages two, five, seven and nine – she produces approximately 10 masks a day. Most are made of three layers of cotton and allow for the insertion of a pad and are washable, according to Schmoyer. She said the straps include headwraps purchased at a local dollar store.

            "The wraps work great," Schmoyer said. "Elastic is so hard to come by."

            Each mask takes between 10 and 15 minutes to produce, according to Schmoyer, who gleaned the proper measurements off a YouTube video. She described the method that features three pleats on the front of the mask as tricky.

            Schmoyer has donated the masks – cloth with a variety of colors and designs – to an aunt who lives in Florida, friends who work in home care, employees of a pharmaceutical company in Quakertown and a retirement community in Richlandtown.

            "I'll keep making the masks as long as I'm cooped up in the house," she said.

            Luanne Seyler, 66, who lives near Mertztown, has made 80 masks over the last month after discovering a pattern on Facebook. A self-taught seamstress who participates in multiple craft shows, she said the first mask took an hour to make. However, the last one took approximately 10 minutes.

            "It took me about a week to get the hang of it," Seyler said. "There was a lot of trial and error."

            Seyler will continue to make the masks as long as they are needed. She's got plenty of fabric, elastic, thread and sewing machines.

            "It was something I can do, and people needed them," Seyler said. "Plus, it made me feel good."

            According to Seyler, a majority of her masks were donated to a church in Kutztown for the volunteers participating in a local food delivery program. She said some others, given to a neighbor,  were donated to another church.

            The Open Link is seeking volunteers to help make masks. Information on how to make them is available on the organization's website.

            Joann Fabric, located at 1465 W. Broad St., Suite 20 in Quakertown, is donating the material to make the masks, including kits during modified hours. Please call 215-538-2171 to request them for curbside pickup.