Du Quoin mask makers have orders for more than 1,000

DU QUOIN - When Amanda Ramsey decided to put her sewing skills to work to make face masks for local medical facilities in need, she had no idea it would become a full-time endeavor with orders streaming in from all areas of the state.

"I think I've found my calling," she joked, speaking via phone from her home workshop, a space she is sharing, "with social distance precautions," with her fellow seamstress and former nurse, Terry Scharf.

The pair have produced nearly 500 masks over the past week with help from Du Quoin native Martha Vaughn, who cuts and irons the material in preparation for sewing, Carterville helpers Linda Harvel and Gina McCann, and Lucy Fullingim from West Frankfort.

They still have local orders of just over 300 to fill before they begin a huge order for a factory in far north Gurnee.

Ramsey began making the masks to honor nurses Savannah Tweedy and Sharf, who she credits with saving her life a few years back when she suffered a series of critical medical issues.

"This is something I could do to give back," she said.

Ramsey said she was contacted late last week by Thomas Pirro, who is the safety director for Domino Amjet, Inc., a technology business considered "essential" that is located in Gurnee, about 12 miles from the Wisconsin border.

"He wanted 700 masks for the workers," she said.

Domino Amjet is giving her the supplies, which are due to arrive in Du Quoin on Wednesday.

"We are donating the masks," she said. "We are not asking for a price.

"If those receiving the masks want to make a donation it goes to continuing to order supplies or is being put back into the community to help with the pandemic."

So far, donations have bought more supplies and have been used to help a Carterville food pantry that was in need of fresh food.