Kelly Dempsey, known for her time on “Project Runway” and for her unique fanny pack designs, is now helping lead a movement to sew masks for local hospitals.

The number of masks worn by doctors and nurses in hospitals have been in short supply due to coronavirus concerns. Some have been looking at the options to reuse the masks, while others have been asked to use scarves or bandanas.

Then a new movement started which encouraged sewers at home to start putting together reusable cloth masks.

The Massachusetts native said she’s not the first person to start doing this, but she knew using the platform her time on “Project Runway” gave her, she could help draw attention to the need.

“I’m very grateful for my platform that I’m able to use that to get it out there and bring everybody together,” she said.

She put out the call last week. A few days later, Dempsey had over 2,000 requests for masks, including at least fives hospitals in Massachusetts.

“They’re still coming in today,” she said. “I’m constantly adding to the list.”

Dempsey has been sewing since she was 9 years old, and the pattern is very easy — but that doesn’t mean she can do it alone.

Assuming she could make a new mask every 20 minutes, which is about how long each one takes, even sewing nonstop for 24 hours, 7 days a week wouldn’t be enough, she said.

“I did the math in my head and I was like, that’s not possible,” she said.

She made a few calls, put the call out on Instagram and the support started pouring in. Even people who can’t sew have stepped up to help with donations, helping those who can’t afford supplies but can sew pitch in.

“We’re in times where people don’t really know what tomorrow brings,” she said. “This is something to keep them distracted. They’re helping this problem.”

Plus, it’s bringing joy to the nurses and doctors who use them.

Dempsey doesn’t shy away from bold prints and colors, naturally neither do her masks.

She said she didn’t want to immediately run out to a fabric store to help practice social distancing because she already had so much material at home. Her fabric, she said, is just brighter colors and designs than you might normally see at a hospital.

“I’m a funky designer,” she said. “And the nurses love it."

“Project Runway” taught her to go with the flow, as she never thought she’d be creating and selling fanny packs, and now sewing masks. But it’s something positive, she said, and that’s what is important.

“If you can be doing something positive and including other people in the community, it’s just something that I feel like we all need right now,” she said.

Related Content: