*Emily Gammon and her mother Peggy Speer, started Masks for Texarkana to help supply masks for the community. (Photo by April Graves)*

During a crisis, some folks become stressed and fearful; however, there are others who become more focused and attentive. This latter group usually examines the situation and asks themselves this question: “What can I possibly do to ease the burden placed on my friends and family?” This scenario is exactly what has happened in Texarkana while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks for Texarkana and Mayo Manufacturing are two such local groups that have begun sewing facemasks to join in the fight of reducing the spread of the Coronavirus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus; however, with 802,583 confirmed cases of the virus (as of April 21) in the U.S., that is easier said than done. Washing hands, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces are four of the ways that they recommend for protection. The fifth way is to “cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.” And this is exactly where Masks for Texarkana and Mayo Manufacturing have stepped in to help.

MASKS FOR TEXARKANA

For Peggy Speer and her daughter and business partner, Emily Gammon, Masks for Texarkana is a ministry project and a way to bless their town. “It’s been so wonderful to see the best in people and know we rolled up our sleeves and ‘got busy’ to help during a most horrible time,” says Peggy. While Emily is more of a gentle helper, Peggy calls herself more of a combination of Rosie the Riveter and Madea. “I guess that is why we make good business partners!”

Emily first came up with the idea of making masks and put the idea on Facebook. With the first materials coming from Peggy’s fabric stash, Emily thought that would be a great way to help her mother clean out the sewing room.

After the original Facebook post went viral and other media outlets publicized the project, the demand for masks grew. Even though Peggy and Emily “never have really understood why it was newsworthy,” they were providing a needed essential item for many in the community who have to work outside of the home or just need to run to the store for essential items.

“Our goal was to make masks for the community and second-line essential workers so that any medical-grade masks that were available could be pushed to medical facilities,” Peggy says. Since Emily has two small children and Peggy has two other full-time jobs, they knew that they had to get assistance from anyone who was interested in helping with their cause. Approximately 20 seamstresses joined the team and have taken part in sewing masks, while many volunteers have donated materials, cut fabric, answered phone calls, and delivered masks. “When I open my shop, The Village Floral & Gift, every morning, I find boxes, sacks, and tubs of donated goods,” Peggy adds. “Our friends at Uniforms Plus have also been a donation and pickup spot for fabric, and have generously run deliveries for us and cut out fabric.” As a collective effort, the group has provided over 2,300 masks to the people of Texarkana.

Although the grassroots effort of this group was to provide protection for the Texarkana area, the impact of this group has gone much, much further. Some of their masks are even being used by the flight attendants on Air Force 1.

“We have to give a standing ovation to April Landes. I have long admired her sewing and administrative abilities,” Peggy acknowledges. “When this project grew beyond our control, I just told her we needed one place for orders and seamstresses to be matched, and she has been the queen of logistics!”

Although both Emily and Peggy are grateful that they have played a tiny part in helping keep citizens safe, their prayer throughout this entire process has been to get back to a day very soon when citizens no longer need to wear masks, and everyone can go back to work, school, and places of worship.

MAYO MANUFACTURING

While Mayo Manufacturing’s management team had been discussing making masks for a few weeks, they really weren’t sure of their game plan until Kelley Crisp, Bowie County’s First Assistant District Attorney and ArkLaTex 100 Club President, contacted Stephen Mayo telling him about the emergency at the jails. That was when the Mayos decided “enough was enough,” and anything they could do to help would be better than nothing.

The team came up with two designs (the M1 and the M2) with two different materials that they had on hand. The M1 design came from a good friend of the Mayos who is a peer in the furniture industry, Chuck Massoud with Massoud Furniture. Patrick Mayo says, “The goal was to minimize the amount of work per mask to maximize the output. We wanted to figure out how to make as many masks as possible, and the immediate need was for the jails. We completed 640 M2s after a few hours, and we felt like we had done some good.” At that point, with the feedback they received, the Mayo team started thinking about how to really attack COVID-19.

Although the Mayos didn’t want to make money off of desperate people, they also didn’t want to disable their livelihoods either, since they have over 200 families to think about, too. At this point, #CoverUpTexarkana was born, allowing the general public to purchase masks which, in turn, allowed Mayo the ability to give M1s away to first responders and M2s to high traffic areas.

Both materials used to make the masks are also used to make furniture. The washable M1s are made of a decking material that Mayo uses on the inside of their leather styles, and these masks are for health care workers, law enforcement, first responders, firemen, and others who are on the front lines. The single-use M2s are a non-woven material that is used to back the inner bags for the fiber-filled inside backs (where your back hits the sofa when you sit) and are provided to grocery stores and other high traffic areas.

Approximately 25 sewers and 10 support crew help cut, bag, and supply materials from the warehouse. “When asked, most agreed most willingly to help,” Patrick says. “We tried to encourage high risk folks to stay home. They certainly wanted the hours, but more importantly, they wanted to help.”

With hospitals running out of gowns, the Mayos also began sewing hospital gowns. Daily, the company has been making approximately 3,000 M1s, 100,000 M2s, and 400 gowns. “If we focused on one mask or gown, we might be able to increase that number, but we are trying to balance as we go,” Patrick adds. The Mayos have received over 1,000 emails from the public expressing gratitude for their help in protecting citizens. Anyone who would like more information about the masks, is urged to email: masks@mayofurniture.com.

Since they are able to use the same technology used to make their furniture, it was only fitting for the Mayos and their team to help their community during this crisis. “The point is to stop the spread,” Patrick shares. “First responders and hospital workers need the PPE so they don’t get sick or spread it to their families. The general public needs access to masks for when they have to venture out. Our goal was to provide everything first responders and hospitals needed, and a mask for every person needing to go buy supplies.”

The responses the Mayos have received on social media can’t even be counted. “We drop off masks to desperate first responders, and they are in tears. The PPE crisis while fighting an invisible enemy creates an atmosphere of panic, and it has an emotional toll on all of us, especially those on the front lines. When they see the faintest sign of hope, the smallest effort to fight back and help, the gesture that we’ve got their back, they are overwhelmed. And so are we,” Patrick concludes. “The stories we’ve heard would make the most callus of people break down, but we’ve also seen resiliency. A small amount of hope can overcome a mountain of doubt and fear. That was our goal. Create positive. Create hope. Fight back. Maybe, while all of this is going on, we might be able to bring a smile, as well.”

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