Clear Springs High School sophomore Michelle and Creekside Intermediate School eighth-grader Nicholas Davis have made more than 40 masks and 100 ear-relief straps on top of their schoolwork. The masks are being given to first responders and hospital workers for free, or they are available to purchase for $5 each, per the release.
Michelle first began sewing masks for her family after finding design patterns online. Soon after, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised recommendations for wearing masks in public to further prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Once the siblings’ mother posted on a Facebook community page about the homemade masks, community requests skyrocketed, from neighbors to nurses and police officers, per the release.
The children’s father, Nick Davis, said in the release that Nicholas is more into robotics, electronics and 3-D printing, so Nicholas researched designs for mask ear-relief straps. The flexible straps are roughly 7 inches long and are meant to relieve tension on the ear. Nicholas prints them himself, which takes about 3 1/2 hours for 10 units, while Michelle irons, pins and sews together the masks, each of which take 10 to 15 minutes.
“I think it's amazing how altruistic they are when it comes to others in need,” Nick said of his children in the release. “I feel they are learning new techniques, how to solve problems, and create efficiencies in their work.”
Nick added that his kids have big hearts. Michelle expressed pride in being able to help her neighbors.
"It makes us feel very happy that we can help the people that help us because they risk their lives every day to keep our community safe and healthy,” she said in the release.
