Ideas That Work: Volunteer Effort

Now that many healthcare workers need to wear masks all day due to the pandemic, many complain that the elastic supports are rough on their ears, even rubbing them raw in some instances. That’s how The Ear Savers Crew came into existence this spring. We’ve established a network of more than 50 volunteer crocheters and knitters throughout Connecticut and New York to create Ear Savers that we donate to essential workers at surgery centers and hospitals (and other workplaces beyond health care). We sew buttons on both ends of a small knitted or crocheted band. By putting the mask’s elastic supports around the buttons, the elastic doesn’t rub the back of the ears. Each Ear Savers is washed and placed in an individual zip-close bag that’s stapled to an enveloped note, which thanks the recipient for their work during the pandemic.

We’re raising money to cover our costs for supplies such as yarn, thread, buttons, shipping and packing supplies at osmag.net/Thx4SH. (A $5 donation would let us purchase enough yarn to make about 30 bands.) As of mid-July, we’ve delivered more than 5,000 Ear Savers to people in seven states. We’re currently working on outfitting entire staffs at four hospitals and seven grocery stores. We plan to do this as long as we’re needed to help as many ears as we can, and we’d love to help the staffers at your facility. Just send your order to the email below (include “Ear Savers Request” in the subject line).

Holly Broderick
The Ear Savers Crew
[email protected]