COVID-19 has taken a toll on the entire economy, but it's the small businesses that have truly been hit by the global pandemic. In the spirit of community, some have decided to use their time to help those on the frontline of the crisis, including Western Massachusetts bridal shop owner Nicole Wzorek.
With her clear schedule, Wzorek is staying busy stitching up masks made out of cotton for essential workers and the elderly instead of dresses for soon-to-be wives. "I have this talent and I’d rather be able to use it for good," Nicole Wzorek, owner of Nicole Wzorek Designs, told local Springfield news outlet 22News. "Helping others always creates more of a positive mentality. Everything that’s going on today, the news, the whole world it's enough to make anyone mentally breakdown. I'm happy I'm able to help through the craft that I have."
Among the facilities that Wzorek has donated her masks to include Baystate, Mercy Medical Center, Cooley Dickinson, the Westfield Fire Department and a string of nursing homes.
Speaking of the community, Wzorek said that after posting her masks on Facebook, a number of her followers asked if they could contribute to the creations. "I don't have that much and people were really generous. I got a lot of cotton elastic, and I was really happy," she continued. Wzorek is expected to have made at least 250 total masks by the end of the weekend.
If you want to get your hands on a mask made by Nicole Wzorek Designs, the entrepreneur is selling them at $10 apiece, with the proceeds going directly into purchasing more material for even more mask creation. Click here for more information!
To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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