Westmoreland County Blind Association making thousands of masks, selling for $3 each

When the Westmoreland County Blind Association announced it had masks for sale for $3 apiece, the response was predictable but still overwhelming, said Executive Director Tim Miller.

“When I got in, the phones were ringing nonstop, and they really haven’t stopped since,” he said.

As of Monday afternoon, the association had received more than 3,000 orders.

Members of the association spent several days experimenting with techniques to make masks quickly, cheaply and effectively. Early prototypes took much too long: workers could only make a few an hour, Miller said.

He considered buying a machine that would allow the masks to be mass-produced, but it would cost about $250,000, he said.

Workers eventually settled on a much quicker method. They’ve set up an assembly line with four stations: one for cutting fabric, one for sewing masks, one for cutting loose threads and the last for sanitizing and packaging finished products.

Miller estimates the association will be able to make about 1,000 masks a day, more on the weekends.

The $3 cost is not much more than the cost of materials, he said.

“We’re not going to make any money on this, because I’m going to have to pay people overtime to do these,” he said.

The association’s textiles department is making the masks in addition to their usual work: making shirts and neckerchiefs for the U.S. military.

The association has also manufactured thousands of protective gowns for Excela Health, to be used if hospitals run out of disposable paper gowns as a result of coronavirus-driven product shortages.

A new state order mandates customers wear masks while in businesses, and employees wear them while working. It took effect Sunday night.

Those interested in buying masks from the blind association can call 724-837-1250, ext 11. Masks are available for pickup at the associations’ Greensburg headquarters. They also can be shipped.

Miller asks that customers be patient as the association works through its backlog of orders.