DAR Homemade Mask Count Surpasses 100,000

Denise Doring VanBuren, President General

With a great deal of gratitude and pride, I am privileged to announce that DAR members have officially sewn and donated more than 100,000 masks for those in need during the Coronavirus pandemic! This DAR Service to America From Home initiative began less than a month ago and was enthusiastically embraced by Daughters across the country. More than 700 chapters are participating and have collectively spent more than 50,000 volunteer hours working on this amazing grassroots effort.

Many of our members learned that hospitals and medical facilities needed masks and jumped in to assist immediately. We were so inspired by their service that we began the official “Service to America From Home” initiative, and even more members stepped forward to help. Daughters have been self-reporting the number of masks they have been making and donating at our DAR Mask Count, and as of today, April 16, DAR members have reported making 107,414 masks! 

View photos of members hard at work making masks.

There are no words that could adequately express my thanks to those who are participating for their quick response. Please know that I have never been more proud to call myself a Daughter of the American Revolution, and I hope you feel the same way.

While you have been sharing all of your generous efforts through the Service to America Committee Facebook group, I encourage you to also share your efforts with your local media using the mask template news release. This is a great way to spread the word about the service efforts of DAR chapters during this national crisis and to celebrate the efforts of your members through your local media.

Here are some great examples of media coverage that DAR chapters have received in their local news for their mask-masking efforts:

How long will mask making continue? As long as necessary! How high can we go? I have learned to never underestimate Daughters on a mission!

Do remember to first contact the organization or healthcare facility in need to obtain guidance before you begin sewing. Please also remember to log your participation in the DAR Mask Count at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DARSTA2020. I would like to additionally encourage you to highlight your service by posting photos on the Service to America Committee Facebook group.

There are, of course, many other opportunities for service and involvement virtually during the Coronavirus pandemic. This month, we created the Daughters Staying Connected Facebook Group to encourage DAR members to share messages of how they remain engaged in DAR activities and volunteer efforts! This Facebook group is a great way to share and read positive videos, photos and stories while remaining connected to the stay-at-home efforts from members. Please also use the platform to share photos and “thank you” messages for those DAR members in your chapter who are serving in essential front line roles during the Coronavirus response – we are all deeply indebted to them.

I am incredibly proud of our members for carrying on DAR’s long tradition of stepping forward to serve during times of need. But know that your health and that of your families is of paramount importance. Please continue to follow government guidelines until we are all safely together again on the other side of this national emergency.  

send-a-commentSend Us a comment