Face mask tree initiative sees Barns Green volunteers raise £4k for charity

Dedicated volunteers from Barns Green have raised more than £4,000 in six weeks by making face masks and hanging them on ‘trees’ for people to take for a donation.
Barns Green volunteers have made more than 2,000 face masks in the community initiative SUS-200508-130100001Barns Green volunteers have made more than 2,000 face masks in the community initiative SUS-200508-130100001
Barns Green volunteers have made more than 2,000 face masks in the community initiative SUS-200508-130100001

So far, more than 2,000 masks have been sold in the Community Mask Tree Initiative, and the team is now hoping to branch out with the help from more volunteers.

Karen Ott, who coordinates the initiative, said: “Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis I have been involved with Barns Green Cobra volunteers getting prescriptions etc for villagers.

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“On June 3, I happened to to watch South Today and saw an item about Community Mask Trees in Salisbury.

Barns Green volunteers have made more than 2,000 face masks in the community initiative SUS-200508-130049001Barns Green volunteers have made more than 2,000 face masks in the community initiative SUS-200508-130049001
Barns Green volunteers have made more than 2,000 face masks in the community initiative SUS-200508-130049001

“The next day on the Cobra WhatsApp group I mentioned it. Elayne Robinson-Dunn had also seen it and we decided to see if we could start one here in Barns Green.

“We visited communitymasktrees.org to find out how to get started and asked on the village Facebook page if anyone would like to be involved. Within ten days we were selling masks. We started with ten of us who all nominated a local charity they would like profits to go to.

“Since then we have been joined by other local people some who sew some cut fabric, some thread elastic or bag up masks. We are looking for more volunteers especially if they are experienced at sewing and have their own sewing machine.”

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The mission of a Community Mask Tree is to make quality washable masks easily accessible and affordable to local people.

The volunteers suggest a donation of £3 a mask but it is entirely voluntary and a lot of people have been giving more.

The team keep costs low by recycling/repurposing fabrics such as duvet covers which are all washed at a high temperature.

Karen said: “We started off with two ‘trees’ – one at Hollytree Cottage, Two Mile Ash Road, Barns Green (using the wishing well in the front garden) and one on Bashhurst Hill.

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“Since then we have done pop up trees in Southwater, Billingshurst and at Newbridge Garden Centre.

“We also have baskets at Westons Farm shop, Sumners Ponds, The Queens Head and Barns Green Sports and Social Club making masks easily available.

“One of our original sewing machinists – Hilary Underwood – has now made over 1,500 masks and is hoping to get to 2000 in the next few days, and Karen Ellis is nearing 600.

“We are all volunteers so this is true dedication.” #

The volunteers aimed to sell around 100 masks to donate £100, and have so far smashed the target with charities including Barns Green Brownies/Guides, Barns Green Playgroup, Horsham Food Bank, Barns Green BigMag, BGCC, WSMS and HOPE all benefiting.

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Karen said: “We are not sure how long this initiative will run for but we will continue until there is no longer a need for us.

“We have already got some Christmas fabric working on the principle that Christmas Masks might be this years Christmas Jumper and stocking filler.”

For more information email Karen at [email protected], Elayne at [email protected] or Fiona at [email protected]

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