SALES of jazzy face masks designed by volunteering director Barbara Boyce have raised more than £850 for the Joseph Rowntree Theatre roof appeal in York.
Early on in lockdown, before the wearing of masks or facial coverings became commonplace or, in some places, mandatory, Barbara began making and selling fabric face masks for the Raise The Roof appeal.
Board trustee Barbara bought and donated all the fabric and elastic for the masks, joining the JoRo’s Just Giving campaign with her fundraiser over the past two months.
“I am making these fun face masks to brighten up those occasions when people need to wear them. They come in a huge variety of high-quality fabrics featuring animals, florals and quirky prints,” she says.
Now that mask-wearing is to become compulsory in shops, with effect from July 24, Barbara anticipates continued – and hopefully increased – demand for the snazzy masks and in turn a further boost for the £90,000 appeal.
Barbara is asking for a minimum donation of £8 for each mask and buyers can contact her to choose a design and size via justgiving.com/fundraising/barbara-boyce1, with her masks available in adult and child sizes.
“All our usual income has dried up as no-one is able to hire the theatre at the moment,” she says. “We still need to pay our bills and get the roof repaired.
“So far I’ve made over 100 masks and as long as people keep buying, I’ll keep sewing.”