CHANDLER, AZ — Masks are pretty commonplace now, but early on, a Chandler family noticed a lot of shaming if you had a mask and weren't donating them to first responders. They decided to ease the tension by boosting supplies -- and the idea really caught on.
Tiffany Hendrickson says her kids, 11-year-old Emma and 10-year-old Mikey, have started dedicating part of their day of homeschooling to helping make masks.
Both kids know how to sew and once mom came up with a pattern that worked, they created an assembly line.
Hendrickson says masks have long been a vital accessory in their family because Grandpa is a nurse and Grandma has severe allergies requiring she wear a mask much of the year, so her kids jumped on the idea.
"They love to serve and they love to give of their time and their talent," said Hendrickson.
They put an offer online for free masks to anyone who really needs them. In just under two weeks, they filled 400 requests from healthcare workers to the immuno-compromised and airport employees.
They personalize every bag and leave on the front door for safety with instructions to pick out the size and design you need.
Realizing the family is doing it all out of pocket, visitors started repaying the kindness by leaving donations for supplies and extra elastic, which has become hard to come by.
The family says they'll keep creating as long as the kids are still having fun doing it.
"I think it's cool that we're able to make them and people are able to use them," said Mikey.
