Can’t wish someone face to face? Donate a mask!

OWN CORRSPONDENT

Hooghuis, who lives in Pretoria, decided to donate almost 2 000 masks, the equivalent of one for each week of Wilson’s life, for her birthday. She bought disposable medical masks and cloth masks that will be handed out via pastors and churches connected to the South African Friends of Israel and underprivileged communities.

This was the perfect gift for her daughter because Wilson is a board member and volunteer at Cadena SA, a Jewish non-profit organisation which offers cost-efficient, sustainable solutions for people affected by natural disasters around the world.

The organisation recently began a campaign to make cloth masks to help fight the coronavirus pandemicepidemic.

“Cloth masks can have a significant impact in stemming the rate of infection of COVID-19 when used correctly, especially in overpopulated areas where social distancing is challenging,” said Mendi Grauman, a director at Cadena SA. Grauman is involved in the organisation’s campaign to sew and distribute cloth masks in areas where they will have the greatest effect.

“This is a time where something as small as a bottle of sanitiser or a mask could mean the difference between life and death for a family. There is no such thing as a small amount in a case like this. Every bit helps,” he said.

• You can also help Cadena by volunteering to sew cloth masks or by making a monetary donation. Contact Grauman at operations.sa@cadena.ngo or call him on 082 893 7233. Alternatively, leave a message on the Cadena South Africa Facebook page.