Maskmaker, Maskmaker ... Make me a mask

A call for volunteers to sew face masks, due to a shortage, caught the attention a Ewing resident who has a background in sewing.

Nancy Harpster said after school dismissed March 16, she came across a Facebook Page coordinated by an Omaha-area nurse practitioner.

"She was looking for volunteers to sew face masks."

Harpster, who serves as bookkeeper at Ewing Public Schools, joined the Facebook group and volunteered to sew marks.

Harpster had extra fabric stashed away from quilting projects.

"I really wanted to be able to do something for others during this difficult time," Harpster said.

The group has more than 1,600 members. About 150 individuals sew masks. The remaining members deliver masks or donate fabric and supplies.

As of April 7, group members have sewn and delivered more than 18,000 masks across the United States.

Thousands of requests continue to come in.

Harpster has made more than 40 masks that have been mailed to various health care outlets, including a dermatology clinic in Sioux City, a health service location in Oxford and an individual and her family in San Francisco, California.

She has also sewn masks for family and friends.

While most of the masks she has made are for adults, Harpster plans to construct masks for her grandchildren.

Harpster's interest in sewing began when she was a 4-H member. She said her mom was a "fabulous seamstress" who taught her and her sisters.

After her sons left for college, she discovered she needed a hobby and returned to sewing.

In 2008, she opened an Etsy shop, sewing table runners, baby quilts, bibs and potholders.