News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Protecting the Plateau will hold a mask exchange Saturday, turning your old masks into art.
The non-profit group formed in March to provide masks for first health care workers, first responders and civil servants. Protecting the Plateau’s Co-Founder Angela Witzel said the public giveaway comes on the heels of increasing COVID cases.
“Since we do have such an increase in numbers right now, lets get as many masks to people who are willing to wear them to try and protect everybody and work together,” Witzel said.
Your old masks will be used by a local quilt maker.
From 1:30 PM-3:30 PM masks can be traded for new ones in the parking lot of Dogwood Exchange. Requests are also being made to donate money for fabric to continue making masks for health care workers, first responders and civil servants.
“Our main objective is to provide those that do a service to our community to help keep them safe because they’re the ones that keep us safe,” Witzel said.
Over 11,000 masks have been given away by Protecting the Plateau since March of 2020. For the future, Witzel said collecting the old masks will encapsulate this time in Cumberland’s history.
“Sally Neckvatal is wanting to collect the masks that are worn out, whether a strap broken off or its got a hole in it from being laundered so much, and she is going to make a quilt that we’re hoping will be displayed at a prominent location in Cumberland County to document our history,” Witzel said.
Witzel said she guesses about 2,000 masks will be given away on August 29th. Monetary donations can be made in person or over the phone to Little Blessings Quilt Shop.
