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LAPLACE — Two River Parishes women are using their social distancing downtime to sew face masks for people who are exposed to the public and working tirelessly instead of hunkering down at home.

Randie Bailey, a St. John the Baptist Parish educator, has worked with fabric since she was old enough to operate a sewing machine. Her influences in those formative years included her grandmother, an experienced seamstress, and her mother Sheila Lapeyrouse, a talented quilter.

Lapeyrouse is by Bailey’s side at the height of the COVID-19 response, helping her make masks in an assembly line set up. The mother-daughter duo started the project Monday of this week. By Tuesday afternoon, 40 masks were complete, and most were already spoken for.

Each protective mask has an open piece for filters and a wire piece for the nose. They are bright and colorful, sewn together with decorative fabric from Bailey’s crafting bins.

It reminds Bailey of the old stories of war time, when everyone pitched in for a greater good.

“It’s about helping other people who can’t get the supplies that they need. It kind of makes me think of World War II, when all the factories started making other things than what they were originally supposed to be making,” Bailey said. “That’s what it feels like right now in 2020. Just do what you can to help others right now, at a safe distance.”

In Bailey’s many years as a book club and beta sponsor at John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet School, it wasn’t uncommon to see people in the community give back to support children and teachers.

“We had so many people reach out and donate to us. It’s our time to give back,” Bailey said.

Each mask that is claimed is left outside on  Bailey’s porch, inside a bag marked with the recipient’s name. Early this week, masks went to representatives from River Parishes Behavioral Health Center in LaPlace, St. Charles Parish Hospital and a medical facility in Ascension Parish. However, hospital workers are not the only essential employees who feel safer working with a protective mask.

The masks have also gone to local pharmacy techs, as well as a worker who stocks the shelves at Matherne’s. Bailey has heard of mail carriers wearing masks for protection since they are exposed to a variety of people, many of whom might not know they are contagious.

“I just think it’s an extra piece of protection for anyone that comes in contact with people during the day,” Bailey said. “They are more vulnerable.”

Lapeyrouse, a yoga teacher, said sewing the masks is an exercise in karma. While some people see karma as a means of revenge, Lapeyrouse said it is truly about selfless service.

“It’s part of the yoga lifestyle,” she said. “Karma is serving others with no expectations in return.”

Lapeyrouse crafts quilts, wall hangings and sometimes clothes with no intention of making a profit or receiving anything in return. She created a large patchwork quilt for John L. Ory’s gymnasium, created from years of school graduation and special events T-shirts dated from 2004 to 2019.

“I’ve made a bunch of things and given them away,” Lapeyrouse said. “That’s kind of what I do.”

To request a mask for pick-up, please email randiebbailey@gmail.com.