When Emily Vincent heard homemade masks were needed in the Lehigh Valley as protection against the coronavirus pandemic, she suggested to her neighbors they make some.

She had some cotton material that wasn’t being used and Regina Bednar said she had some material to contribute, as well as, extra elastic.

Margaret Rosenberger said she had large spools of white thread that could be useful.

This reporter had several cotton tablecloths with colorful balloons printed on them that would make good masks.

Vincent also had sheets she would wash and tear into the recommended 7-inch by 9-inch size for a mask.

Rabbi Michael Singer of Congregation Brith Sholom, Bethlehem, said he had volunteers he would call to pick up the completed masks and take them to soup kitchens where they were needed.

He also shared a website that had directions for making masks.

The neighborhood friends went to their sewing machines and made about six dozen masks and then called Rabbi Singer.

Yale West came over to the South Whitehall neighborhood friends and picked up the masks and took them to New Bethany Ministries Soup Kitchen and Trinity Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen, both in Bethlehem.

The staff wear the masks and also give them to anyone who comes to eat at the soup kitchens and doesn’t have a mask.