A group of inmates in a California jail found a small way to give back to the community while sharpening their sewing skills.
Inmates at the South Placer Jail stitched together more than 1,200 face masks for the public to wear as they work to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the efforts made by inmates in the prison.
“We are proud of the work our female inmates have done, and continue to do!” the office wrote in a post on Facebook over the weekend.
The office also posted a video of how the masks were made. Megan Brown, one of the inmates who led the tutorial, said she appreciated the opportunity to help the community, saying, “Thank you for letting us give back.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its guidance on wearing face masks during the coronavirus pandemic and urged people to start covering their faces while in public. While the guidance only shifted recently, there was already a shortage of disposable masks, leaving many without access to a face covering. The sheriff’s office noted that all masks were donated in less than 24 hours and said a future distribution date would be set when the inmates have more masks ready.
California has the fourth-largest coronavirus outbreak in the United States. As of Tuesday morning, the state had more than 16,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 388 related deaths.
