In early April, a kind-hearted Dronfield woman, Shelagh Cheetham, sent out a call for people with sewing skills to join her making fabric face masks for local doctors and care homes. And so 'Shelagh's Sewing Ladies' was formed.

Visit Shelagh's Sewing Ladies on Facebook

Less than a month later, there are over 80 volunteers involved and nearly 3000 masks have been made and donated to local services in need, plus a few reaching as far away as New York and the tiny Indonesian island of Sula. What started as a small local initiative has grown into something requiring a dedicated delivery team, admin team, and logistics team.

Staff love them! They are very comfortable - not getting sore around the chin, ears, and nose like the medical ones - Meadow Grange Care Home

The Masks are absolutely beautiful, the nicest we've ever seen. Your kindness has blown everyone away. - Alexander Court

Thank you from Dronfield Medical Practice. Great masks and much appreciated - Dr Leckenby

We have fortunately been able to manage so far largely on donations, however this fundraising campaign will allow us to to the following:

- cover the costs of delivering and occasionally posting our masks to those in need.

- top up our fabric and elastic supplies for the ever growing demand.

- provide a 'hardship fund' for access by any of our sewing volunteers whose sewing machines break in the course of their volunteering and would otherwise struggle to afford it's repair.