VIP Textile Restoration started making masks June 9 and delivered our first ones on Thursday the 11th.
To date we have made and delivered 125 masks to our customers at no cost to them.
The mask is made with a 3 layer construction, that is 100% cotton exterior that is lightweight and breathable and also has a washable filter built in the middle layer. Soft elastic is used to reduce stress on the ears and face while wearing the mask.
We are currently making these to donate to our current customers to help them meet current health guidelines.
We decided to do this mainly because we felt it was the right thing to do. We have a hard time seeing people paying money for something that can help prevent a potentially fatal virus. We have the ability and the desire to help people, and that is what we are doing.
Currently, we are only selling them for the cost of the materials depending on the situation. For example, we donated 100 masks to the Blackshop Restaurant. When we delivered them, they asked me for another 50 to outfit their entire group, but they insisted they wanted to pay for them. The Owner felt it was too big of an ask to request another 50 for free. So we made a deal, and that was he would just pay my cost of materials. At this point we are paying retail for materials and I estimate our costs somewhere between $4-5 per mask.
At the end of the day, if someone needs a mask and we have it, I would donate it to them. As I said before, I have a hard time charging for something that can have such a positive effect on someone’s life, especially an item that is low cost. I can understand if the price of the item was very expensive but that is not the situation.
Lee Cunningham – Owner, VIP Textile Restoration
