FORT WAYNE — Parkview Health has partnered with the community to sew face masks for patients and is now sharing directions for volunteers. 

The program is an attempt to conserve personal protective equipment for its clinical staff,

Thanks to the overwhelming response from the community, 725 mask-making kits were distributed to volunteers in just three days, said a news release from Parkview Health.

In an effort to support volunteers who still wish to sew and donate homemade masks, and have materials on hand, Parkview is sharing its mask-making instructions. Detailed directions, including pictures, are available at parkview.com/homemademasks.    

The supplies needed to make a mask include a 9” x 7” piece of fabric, two 32” strings or ribbons, scissors, thread and a sewing machine.

Once complete, all masks can be delivered to the main lobby desk at either Parkview Whitley, 1260 E. State Road 205, Columbia City, or Parkview Warsaw, 1355 Mariners Drive, Warsaw between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Donated masks will be laundered by Hospital Laundry Service before they are distributed. Please note that Parkview cannot accept fabric donations at this time.

Businesses wishing to donate their supply of unused personal protective equipment, such as N-95 masks and gloves, may also do so by dropping them off at either facility. The donations will be vetted for safety before distribution. Businesses interested in making a donation of PPE should contact Carrie Hoffman, Parkview Whitley/Warsaw Foundation Director, at [email protected].

Please email [email protected] with any questions about the mask-making or donation process.