BALTIMORE — Since the beginning of this global pandemic, people have been making and donating masks all throughout our area.
It's mainly been for health care workers and other essential personnel but what about masks for children? One woman decided to focus just on making masks for the kids.
At first, Kim Ridley started making masks for veterans and healthcare workers and then was inspired to make them for the children.
"When this first started we gave my granddaughter the blue hospital surgical looking mask and she was like I don’t want that I want princesses or something so that sparked my fire for kid friendly masks," said Ridley. "Another thing that sparked my fire was looking at mothers who have masks and their kids don’t have them on."
Ridley is the Director of Miracles and More Community Outreach, so she's used to giving back, and she's a hairstylist. When hair salons closed, that's when she took up this sewing project.
"A good bit of my volunteers put together. I gained a sewing machine, I gained material and I got to work," said Ridley.
So far, she's made about 1,000 masks and partnered with schools in the Baltimore City School District to make sure they're getting to the right people.
"Right now, we know that masks are very scarce and we don’t know what’s happening with Covid so we want to make sure that we meet the needs of our students that they have everything they need which includes the masks," said KerryAnn Malcolm, the Assistant Principal at Montessori Public Charter School.
Every Wednesday, they give away food to families in their community with help from the National Guard and World Central Kitchen.
"They really speak towards and are really supportive to the families in the community especially us single parents who are just trying to get it on our own," said Lawshawnda Gladden.
She said without these groups she doesn't know where she would be right now. She said how grateful she is for the community center, supplying an outlet for her children.
Gladden brought four of her children to the Montessori Charter Public School to pick out their own mask on.
"It’s better to be safe than sorry. My heart is a heart to give and together we do it better and win. If we come together in the community those who have and don’t have and make it work. That’s what I’m about. I always say I’m blessed to be a blessing," said Ridley.
She's doing another giveaway for kids masks on Saturday, June 20 outside of her hair salon at 1016 Taylor Ave. from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
If you’d like to reach out to Ridley directly at 443-691-2785 or email her at miraclesnmoreoutreach@gmail.com.
