Forms to Request Mask-Making Kits, Order Completed Masks Available
Rapid City healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals are in great need of facemasks during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Masks for Rapid City is seeking volunteers to make 60,000 masks to help protect them.
Western Dakota Tech (WDT) was asked to lead the Rapid City mask-making and distribution effort and formed Masks for Rapid City.
WDT and West River Area Health Education Center (AHEC) employees have worked with Monument Health and Elizabeth Freer, principal and owner of Dialogue who created the Monument Health-approved mask pattern and directions, to make it a reality. Freer leads the MakeSpace group that is making masks for the Spearfish community.
Masks for Rapid City has received a $25,000 grant from the John T. Vucurevich Foundation to purchase Batik fabric (best for making healthcare masks), thread, and other items necessary to create kits to make the needed facemasks.
Masks for Rapid City is coordinating the purchasing, prewashing of the Batik fabric; kit assembly; completed mask kit drop-off at WDT and/or pickup; and delivery to those requesting masks.
Mask Making Kit Request & Pickup/Delivery Info
Anyone in Rapid City can order a Mask-Making Kit by completing and submitting the form located on the Masks for Rapid City Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/261625155011239/. The kits include pre-washed, new Batik material, thread, instruction and pattern packets. Each kit can yield 20 masks. The form, along with downloadable mask-making instructions and pattern, can also be found under the Masks for Rapid City header, on the Western Dakota Tech Volunteer Opportunities webpage, at https://www.wdt.edu/news-events/volunteer-opportunities.
Those who request Mask Making Kits via the form will be notified when their kit is ready for pickup at the Western Dakota Tech front entrance, 800 Mickelson Dr., or delivery of kits can be requested via the form to Rapid City addresses. Pickup days at WDT will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon. Arrange safe, contact-free pickup of masks by calling Allen ahead at (605) 393-7435, placing completed masks in your trunk, opening your trunk upon arrival at the Western Dakota Tech main entrance, and calling Allen to get them.
If you do not have access to a computer to complete the form, please call the Masks for Rapid City Hotline at (605) 718-3088 and follow the prompts.
The first batch of Mask Making Kits will be distributed this Friday, April 24, at WDT.
Completed Mask Dropoff & Delivery
Finished masks will be dropped off at Western Dakota Tech on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon. Masks for Rapid City volunteers will handle mask approval (make sure they meet Monument Health requirements), coordinate the rewashing of the masks, and distribution to those requesting masks. Healthcare providers will receive priority.
Requesting Completed Masks
Businesses, organizations and individuals in need of cloth facemasks, should complete the Completed Mask Request Form on the Masks for Rapid City Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/261625155011239/. (Also located under the Masks for Rapid City header, on the Western Dakota Tech Volunteer Opportunities web page at https://www.wdt.edu/news-events/volunteer-opportunities.)
If you do not have access to a computer to complete the form, please call the Masks for Rapid City hotline at (605) 718-3088 and follow the prompts.
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
Watch for future information on the Masks for Rapid City Facebook page regarding dates/times to volunteer to help assemble Mask Making Kits.
Businesses Supporting Masks for Rapid City
Many great local businesses are assisting with the Masks for Rapid City effort along with the John T. Vucurevich Foundation. Betty’s Quiltery, The Sewing Center, and The Quilt Connection have provided Batik cloth and thread at a discount for this purpose. Laundry World and Heritage Cleaners are washing the new material prior to the masks being made, and rewashing them prior to distribution, for free. (Monument Health is laundering completed masks that go to them.) The Monument Health Print Shop has donated the paper and printing cost for the mask-making instruction and pattern packets that are included in the mask-making kits.
For More Information
For more information, call the Masks for Rapid City, hotline at (605) 718-3088.
NEWS MEDIA – To arrange interviews or filming of Masks for Rapid City activities, call
- Pam Stillman-Rokusek, of WDT Strategic Communications/Marketing, at (605) 718-2970,
- Stephanie Mayfield, West River AHEC Director, who is helping to coordinate Masks for Rapid City, at (701) 840-2923.
