Hickey Freeman clothing company is calling on the community to help it make desperately needed protective face masks in its local community of Rochester. Hickey Freeman stepped up after being contacted directly by Rochester General Hospital, where the supply of masks is critically low. The clothing company initially had to lay off employees during the pandemic, but it is now calling them back into work. “What we will be doing is cutting these things inside the factory, and then asking people who have sewing machines in their homes, we will be distributing these piece
s,” explained Jeffery Diduch, vice president of technical design for Hickey Freeman. “I will record instructions on how to sew them in steps. I will prepare a guide with the pattern, so they will get a little kit of things that are cut, along with printed and video instructions on how to sew this stuff.” Employees will be spaced out for protection. The company is asking any members of the community with a sewing machine to contact them. They will be paid. For more information, click here.