CRK Training Cares

» Our Mask Mission «

We, in the CRK Training community, have connected together because of our common love of horses and riding. Right now, we are still finding joy in our days either out with our horses or through videos and live calls if we cannot go to the barn. But in this time of need around the world, we have the opportunity to connect in other ways too.

Even in a small way, we can make a difference. For each other and for the wider community.

If you have ever enjoyed making things with your hands - working with crafts, fabrics, or sewing, or you have some extra time right now and the spirit to try something new, then read on!

Our mission is to unite our community to help the greater cause of humanity right now in the world, especially our health care workers, who are on the front lines every day.

Face masks are essential, for those in health care, and also for the public. Many hospitals are already running short and while homemade masks are no replacement for medical-grade personal protective equipment, research shows they do help stop the spread.

What we are doing here is:
  1. Know where to find supplies to make masks and what to get 
  2. Providing simple instructions on how to make the masks, even if you don’t have sewing experience
  3. Help you find where to send your finished masks
  4. Inject some fun and joy into your day in the process! 

Why I Thought Our Community Could Help

When I was talking to my friends who work in the medical community, I noticed their common concern was not having enough protective equipment for themselves and their colleagues. 

I also started hearing about several people in our community who were making masks for their local communities,  before wearing face masks became bigger news in the past few days. My own community, in South Eastern Pennsylvania, has already responded in a big way with the Amish and Mennonite communities creating face masks by the thousands. 

I decided to dive in, researching what kind of homemade mask was most useful plus easy to make and create a simple resource to provide info and logistics so those interested with sewing skills or the spirit to learn could dive in and get started quickly. 

It's a simple way to help that can have a big impact for someone... so if you want to be a part of this scroll down to learn more!
Meet Surgical Technologist Avery Burdy

Avery is not only a rider but she is also a health care professional. She is one of the many selfless people working at the front-lines of the current pandemic.

Her hospital, like so many others, is short on protective gear. I'm going to let Avery share more with you in this video on the importance of PPE for not only health care workers but for patients and their loved ones.
Meet Registered Nurse Melissa

​This is me, every shift, plus a gown and gloves going in to every single room. The mask I have on is days old, the one underneath, the same. My coworkers and I leave with indentations in our faces, trouble breathing feeling like we’re suffocating all shift. Our hands are raw from washing them so frequently to point that they actually feel like sandpaper. Last night mine were so red that the splash of water was burning like crazy. We’re watching people die left and right without their loved ones present. We’re seeing families plagued by this virus. Our supplies are indeed running low. And we are all at risk taking care of these patients.

Are you a health care worker that would like to share your story and what you need?

Please send us an email at crktrainingvideos@gmail.com!

4 Steps to start Mask Making!

Step 1  Here are the Supplies You Need

  1. Cotton Weave Fabric (~1/2 yard is enough to make 2-3 masks) *Thread count of at least 180 recommended
  2. All-Purpose Thread 
  3. Hair Ties or Elastic (depending on mask style)
  4. Scissors 
  5. Doubled-Sided Skin Adhesive *if using the mask for yourself​

Step 2  Here's Where to Get Your Supplies

1. If you are able to get your supplies from a local fabric shop, they could use the support! Some are doing outside pick up or deliveries. Search for fabric stores in your area and call them to see what they offer.

2. Joann - a nationwide fabric chain - has many locations that are operating for supplies pick up and shipping and also has their own resource available for creating masks. View Joann's site here

3. Fabric is also available at large retailers such as Walmart.

Step 3  Here's How to Make Your Mask

There are many mask patterns available - here are two I found with good tutorials (see my first attempt in Option 2).
Option 1  The Olson Template with printable patterns and PDF instructions 
olson_mask_template.pdf
File Size: 3372 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Option 2  Square Pleated Mask
​with Video Tutorial​
 From Callie: I made this square mask, handsewn, and found the tutorial easy to follow. Only change I'd make is to put in your elastic before sewing the elastic loops. It was a bit hard to push through after! (See pic in the Mask Stories at the bottom of this page!)
Idea - Not into sewing, but want to get involved?  Find someone in your community who is sewing and ask if you can donate money towards fabric and supplies, or help pick up supplies for them. 

Step 4  Here's How to Send Your Masks

Once you have created your masks, now it's time get them to where they are needed!  Here are some ways to find those areas of need:

1. See if they are needed in your local area - check with your local hospital, food banks, and homeless shelters. Even making one extra mask and giving to an elderly neighbor or a friend who needs one makes a difference!

2. If you create masks in bulk, join this Facebook Group, Sewing to Save - they have a coordinated system for distributing masks by state.

3. If you don't have a local need or cannot find a local drop point, here are several personally confirmed areas of need (more to be added):

New York
Mail to: Yale New Haven Health System Regional Operations Center – Attn: PPE Donations 600 Derby Ave. (Route 34) West Haven, CT 06516. 

Pennsylvania
Mail to: PPE Distribution to Reading Hospital, PO Box 130, Morgantown, Pa 19543

Mail to: Lehigh Valley Health Network C/O Avery Burdy 144 Furance Road Birdsboro, PA 19508

Maryland
Mail to: Peninsula Regional Medical Center C/O Caroline Farrell 204 Intrepid Lane Berlin, MD 21811

Have a location to add to our list?  Please email crktrainingvideos@gmail.com!

Idea - add a note of appreciation tucked into each mask before you send them!

Mask Stories from Our Communities

Did you find a fun fabric for your masks?
Add some original art?
Have a personal story to share? 

Email us at crktrainingvideos@gmail.com so we can add your mask story here!

Callie getting the ball rolling!

Hi Mask Makers!  I wanted to give one of the mask tutorials a test run so with Freida (my mini doxie) in support, I made this mask.  I followed the Option 2 tutorial above and found it easy to follow. The only adjustment I would make is to put in the elastic before sewing the elastic loops - it was a bit hard to push through after! I'd love to hear about your mask story - please email it to us at crktrainingvideos@gmail.com with a pic!

All the way from Australia!

Hi, I'm Maureen from Sydney Australia and have been making masks for a week or so now for family and friends - I think the count so far is 20.  I first started making them for 2 of my sisters who work in health care and finding it hard to get enough masks.  So I got busy with my sewing machine and a pattern I made based on a surgical mask. I then improved the mask a few times based on feedback from from my sisters - one was to change the ties from elastic to Lycra so they could be tied behind the head for comfort and another was a nose adjustment to avoid glass fog.  Happy to report my sisters are happy and everyone is getting a lift from the colourful fabrics!

Limited Sewing Skills? No Problem!

Hi I'm Kathy Reynolds, these 18 masks may not be pretty but I am pretty darn proud of them! First, I have zero sewing skills. Second, I haven’t used my machine in about 12 years. The machine didn’t work all the time and I couldn’t even remember how it all worked, it took quite awhile to get these sewed because things kept breaking. Third, I used material that I had bought with the intention of making a Christmas tote bag so some of it was pretty thick. So I had to adjust what was a very simple pattern to make it work. Fourth, the elastic I had was so old it disintegrated, so we had to come up with another method (old shoe strings, good thinking, to my husband Dean!). So glad that they came out okay!

CRK Training's Extended Family Joins the Mission

Our farm campus' lead instructor and manager, Kaitlyn McGarvey, shared these photos of her grandmother taking on the Mask Mission!  Using her sewing skills and machine she has taken the initiative to create masks for those in need in our local community.  Hope you'll join us too!  (You don't need a sewing machine to join in, hands and a needle work just fine - see Callie's Story above)