Over 7,300 homemade masks donated in St. Paul on Saturday

This week, Gov. Tim Walz launched a homemade mask drive to encourage Minnesotans to help with those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In St. Paul alone, more than 7,300 homemade masks were donated to local fire stations Saturday. Those masks were boxed up by first responders and volunteers and will go to health care workers, other first responders and those living in congregate care facilities.

“In the first hour, across all 15 stations, we had over a thousand masks,” said St. Paul Fire Deputy Chief Roy Mokosso. “They’re not asking for anything in return other than an understanding that the work that they’ve done and they’ve put into are going to benefit members in this community.”

Gov. Walz launches statewide ‘Homemade Mask Drive’

The people making the masks said they were doing what they could to keep their fellow Minnesotans safe.

“I’m a retired nurse and I can’t go into work, so this my way of helping,” said Karleen Reller, who lives in St. Paul.

Sarah Stephenson, who also lives in St. Paul, said she made 106 masks.

“My sister is a nursing assistant and my sister is a police officer as well, so I just wanted to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to stay safe and healthy," Stephenson said.