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Hallagan Furniture has found ways to contribute to the coronavirus outbreak—by creating face masks for frontline workers and hospitals out of the same material used to make furniture.
Nearly 150 volunteers are helping the Hallagan family produce 1,000 masks a day. So far, 20,000 masks have been distributed to local hospitals including Newark-Wayne Community Hospital and Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic.
“We’re all just doing what we’re good at,” said Steve Hallagan, co-owner of Hallagan Furniture. “Use that skill to help solve the problem. We make furniture and we’re good at cutting fabric.”
The Hallagans, along with the Newark Rotary Club, have pledged to cover the entire cost of the first 20,000 masks they produce, ensuring they come at no cost to health care providers.
“The Hallagan masks are a very high-quality manufactured mask,” said Matt Schiralli, MD, general surgeon at Rochester Regional Health. “They’re different than what you might make at home because of the material they’re made out of and how they closely resemble our surgical masks.”
The Hallagan’s mask is made of polypropylene which is a breathable material commonly used to make reusable grocery bags.
“Typical surgical masks are one-time masks and are thrown away. We’ve tested these and they can be used over and over,” said Ralph Pennino, MD, senior VP of the Specialty Medical and Surgery Group at Rochester Regional Health. “These masks could serve a huge function and a huge gap we have right now.”
“On behalf of our system and our healthcare workers, thank you so much to the Hallagan family and all the volunteers that are making this contribution possible.”
