During these times people have been searching for essential protective equipment. Despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases, it has been a challenge to locate items such as masks for everyday use. There is one local company who is helping healthcare facilities by providing masks of their own.

Blessed Hands, created by Janette Holland of Stafford, is creating masks to help people during the pandemic. Using Janome sewing machines, Blessed Hands has been able to design beautiful Ankara-print fabric masks that are washable and reusable. They ask for donations of only $10 a mask plus $5 in shipping, however they are giving them to people who are unable to afford that price due to the hard times. In addition, they are also donating masks to medical facilities for free. Next week they will be sending 150 to a Woodbridge nursing home.

For Janette, it has been an incredible experience creating the masks, in spite of the amount of time spent in the process.

“At this point, I’ve made about 600,” Holland said in a recent interview with Fredericksburg.com. “And still, I’m staying up until 3 a.m. each night getting these made.” She is aided by the help of her husband, children and niece to make it happen.

Her motivation for making the masks? “I just feel for those people who are scared and I want to help.”

Even as they are creating the masks, she continues to practice social distancing during distribution. “For these nurses and other folks getting one or two masks, I make them and leave them on the porch for people to come pick up,” she said. “That keeps them safe and my family safe by not interacting.”

The masks are intended to provide comfort, help the user to not touch their face and they come in a variety of designs. If you would like to purchase masks, please contact Mrs. Holland at 703-919-0029, by email at blessedhandz54@gmail.com, or check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/her.blessedhandz/. They can receive payments via PayPal or through the Cash App.