Nicole Jochym: Co-creator of Sew Face Masks Philadelphia (SFMP) (Podcast #51)
In our third COVID-cast, we interviewed Nicole Jochym, a third-year medical student at Cooper Medical School in Camden, New Jersey. She holds a Masters of Bioethics from Penn, and she recently started Sew Face Masks Philadelphia (SFMP) in response to COVID-19.
SFMP started before public support for universal masking, with the goal of advocating for the use of cloth face masks and reusable face masks and leaving disposable masks for hospitals and clinics. SFMP sourced donations from the local community and distributed the masks at no cost to hospitals in Philadelphia, along with other essential workers such as SEPTA (public transportation) operators, community health centers, grocery store workers, and food services.
SFMP also encouraged the public to make face masks, sourcing all published patterns, and rating them on usability. SFMP’s website lists tutorials for their top three choice patterns for usability and has a website and Facebook group available for people to discuss mask patterns and choices.
SFMP welcomes further involvement in the cause. Although they have already distributed 2,000+ masks, they need help with donations and the production of masks.
For more information, see the website at www.sewfacemasksphilly.com.
