As she left Joann fabric and craft store in north Spokane on Sunday afternoon, Allison Tripp donned a homemade face mask.
The mask was the first of many attempts for Tripp, who had returned to Joann to buy more supplies.
Tripp and people across Spokane have flocked to local fabric and craft stores for supplies to make masks for first responders. The American Sewing Guild Inland Northwest Chapter even coordinated with the Spokane Fire Department to purchase fabric and facilitate donations.
The fire department picks up the masks, sanitizes them, and then distributes them to local first responders.
“I’m wearing one right now,” said Spokane Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer on Monday afternoon.
Schaeffer said the masks aren’t a substitute for N95s in high-risk situations, but for day-to-day contact with the public the masks have been a huge help to first responders over the last week.