Betty Scott is sewing face masks for others and raising money for her parish at the same time catholicleader.com.au

BETTY Scott’s homemade face masks are spreading like a pandemic.

Having begun to catch on around her Albany Creek parish, they’re now popping up in other parts of Brisbane, in Melbourne and even in England.

“I just wanted to be a help, not a big deal,” Mrs Scott said, a little embarrassed about how news of her mask-making efforts had spread.

She said one of her daughters got her started when she began self-isolating about eight weeks ago, suggesting she use her time stuck at home to sew some masks.

Once Mrs Scott got into the swing of it, her daughter began selling some of the masks, and people loved the colourful cotton originals.

“We were only selling one or two at a time at that stage, but now people are wanting (more) … I’ve got one order now from one lady who wants 10,” the sewing grandmother said.

“She gave me a heap of material as well and she said I could have the rest of the material as long I made 10 and she would still pay for them.

“We’re selling them now for $5 each …

“(My daughter) put a little ad in a community online group, and she had eight calls in about an hour the other day, so I’ve had to step it up now.

“One person yesterday bought 12 and gave us a $25 donation as well.”

Mrs Scott donates all the proceeds to All Saints’ Parish, Albany Creek.

She and her husband Pat, who now lives in a nursing home, have been long-time parishioners there and Mrs Scott’s been a member of the parish’s craft group for 20 years.

She said she was glad to be able to do something to help the parish “because we normally have a fete that raises $100,000 a year and we haven’t got that this year”.

“And our little craft group has three stalls a year and we raise usually about $1200 to $1500 each time so I thought to myself, ‘Well, if I could cover one of those stalls (by selling masks) I’d be happy …’,” she said.
“So, hopefully, who knows? That’s my aim.”

Mrs Scott is pleased to be able to give back to the community she loves.

“I go to Mass there; I’m fortunate enough to be in the ballot and go to Mass and I’m lucky enough to be able to see Mass on TV with my husband twice a week at the (nursing) home … and then I have Communion,” she said.

“So I’ve been lucky enough to have Communion at least twice a week the whole time (during the pandemic); I call that a blessing.

“I’ll keep going (with the mask-making) as long as I’ve got material and I can still stand up to move from the chair to the sewing machine …”

Albany Creek parish secretary Sue Hutton counts Mrs Scott as a blessing for the way she turned her lockdown time into a loving response.

So far Mrs Scott’s masks have raised $400.