Salem Health runs out of kits to make face masks in minutes after asking for help

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Volunteer mask-makers answered a call out by Salem Health in droves Thursday, creating a miles-long traffic jam at a distribution site at Mission and 25th streets.

It was only Wednesday evening when Salem Health asked for help in making 10,000 masks for medical workers. By 11:30 a.m. Thursday, cars were lining up for a 1 p.m. pick up at the Mission Street site of the former Kmart.   They were quickly told kits had run out.

Traffic was backed up for miles. As it got worse, some took to parking their cars nearby and walking, but only a few were able to get kits this way before police officers stepped in.

"We didn't expect such a wonderful response," one Salem Health employee told a driver when she finally made it to the front of the line.

Salem Health employees located at the Salem location distributed 276 mask-making kits, with the final kits passed out before 2 p.m. Each kit makes 30 masks.

Long before those final cars received kits, however, employees counted how many they had left and Salem Police turned away those who didn't make the cut. 

Michael Johnson of Salem said traffic was so backed near the Mission Street location in Salem before the kits were handed out that he drove to a second pick up site at the West Valley Hospital parking lot in Dallas.

"They were out in the first 10 minutes,” Johnson said.

Salem Health staff created and bagged mask-making kits that include surgical paper fabric, instructions and a bag for the finished products.

The hospitals were scheduled to have drives at the Salem and Dallas locations Friday, but those have been canceled.

"Thank you so very much for your willingness to help health care workers, neighbors and friends. If you didn't get a chance to participate, don't worry," Salem Health said in a statement. "We still feel the love. Let's keep the sentiment of supporting one another going. 10,000 times thank you!"

The supply of personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and gowns has run dangerously low throughout the nation.

An executive order from Gov. Kate Brown on March 18 prevented dentists and veterinarians in Oregon from performing non-emergency procedures to preserve what supply remains in the state.

Conservation efforts and drives from other medical professionals has extended the supply, but hospitals are running out of the most important equipment such as N95 masks.

Those who picked up the kits can return the completed masks in the enclosed bags at the Salem location from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 1, from 10 a.m. to noon April 2 and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 3.

At the Dallas location, masks can be dropped off from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 2 and from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 3.

Statesman Journal reporter Connor Radnovich contributed to this report.

Virginia Barreda is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at 503-399-6657 or at vbarreda@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. 

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler