“Maintain distance from people, not from humanity.”
Staying safe and helping those in need is everyone’s responsibility. During the pandemic, many people could not afford to buy face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus.
Two volunteers from Manaswini Foundation, Manjusha Mukase and Suman Dass, took the initiative to address this need. Using a skill they had learned years ago as a hobby, they began stitching masks and distributing them to as many people as possible — producing around 50 to 60 masks daily.
They sourced good quality, washable, and reusable cloth to ensure safety and sustainability. What started as a small effort soon turned into a community-driven movement. While maintaining social distance, Manjusha and Suman also trained many underprivileged women in mask-making, enabling them to help expand the reach and impact.
Together, they distributed around 1,000 masks, with additional support from other volunteers who helped distribute both masks and other essential items.
Manjusha shared,
“After seeing how hard the government is working to stop the spread of this deadly disease, we felt that, as responsible citizens, it was our duty to do something for society.”