Volunteers and donations are being sought to help provide free face coverings to charities, community groups and food banks across the city to meet rising demand. BrumScrubs has sent out 7,000 face coverings to non-profits, community groups, schools and charities in the past month. It is taking part in a national initiative called the ‘Big Community Sew’, which was set up by BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant and aims to provide communities with free face coverings.
The founder of BrumScrubs, Marcelle Porteous, said since it had been announced that face coverings will become mandatory in shops from 24th July, demand was outstripping supply. “We can’t produce them fast enough,” she explained. “We normally receive requests for over 350 face coverings a week, but now demand for face coverings is through the roof. Two weeks ago we were asked for 2,500 face covers to support refugees in the city, and it’s growing by the day. This is why we’re appealing for any sewers with home sewing machinery to get involved, as well as asking for donations to allow us to purchase more elastic and materials.
“We used to make scrubs, ear guards, scrub caps and scrub bags. Now the focus has shifted to face coverings, all of our sewing efforts and fundraising is focused on that. This is an opportunity for everyone in the Birmingham area to come together and make a difference by giving back to the wider community, to keep us all safe from a second wave.”
Anyone looking to volunteer or donate materials can get in touch with BrumScrubs by emailing [email protected]. Donations are also invited via a GoFundMe page, where just £10 can buy enough material and elastic to make thirty face coverings.
