Over 300 new and used fabric masks donated by Algoa FM staff will be used to make reusable, washable cloth pads for young girls in need.
The masks were handed over to Red Ruby Pads, a volunteer organisation which is keeping Covid-19 fabric masks out of landfills while meeting a social need.
Flannel and cotton fleece masks are sewn into the reusable pads, according to project coordinator Amber Wicks.
“Algoa FM is supporting the project through our corporate social investment programme Algoa Cares. This project touches on all our pillars, which are education, health and the environment,” says Algoa FM marketing manager Lesley Geyer.
“Research has shown that girls are often forced to stay away from school because they do not have suitable sanitary pads.
“From an environmental perspective there are thousands of cloth masks which will simply end up in landfills rather than being put to good use,” she adds.
Depending on the fabric used to manufacture the original mask, as many as two or three masks will be used to make the inserts for a pad, according to Wicks.
Polycotton pads are being sewn into kiddie aprons and reusable grocery bags.
“These will be sold to raise funds to purchase the right materials,” she says.
At present, the pads are being sewn and distributed by volunteers, but there are plans to formally register as a non-profit organisation in order to be able to create jobs for people who will be trained to cut and sew them, she says.
In picture: At the handover of new and used cloth masks to Red Ruby Pads, are, from left to right: Celeste Thomas (Algoa FM HR Manager), Desire Pratt (Algoa FM Finance Manager) and Amber Wicks (Red Ruby Pads Project Coordinator).
