Coronavirus News: 3 generations of Long Island seamstresses band together to sew masks for donation

HAUPPAUGE, New York (WABC) -- Tina Di Martina Designs has been a staple on Long Island for over 45 years and now they're giving back to the community by using their skills to sew masks.

Initially, their business had to shut down - due to the coronavirus quarantine order - since they were a non-essential business. However, the owner, Lisa Fraumeni and her daughter, Angela, decided to re-open to sew as many masks as they could to donate workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

"We're not making a living doing this, but just the appreciation that people are showing us, it gets us so excited and motivated to keep going," said Angela. "If you asked us two weeks ago, what we were going to be doing, I would've said 'oh making more dresses', but no... now we're at a thousand and thirty-something masks."

Not only are Lisa and Angela sewing masks, but even their 84-year-old retired grandma, Tina, sews masks from home.

Related: How to make a homemade face mask

"It's great that she can do it, thank God she's in great shape," said Lisa. "She's got a lot of energy."

At first, it was the three of them sewing away, but now the mask mission has brought back three of their seamstresses and five volunteers. To make sure each exchange follows the social distance measures, they have a sanitized table where each mask donation is left for pick up.

"I would say to people who are out of work right now, try to keep busy and try to make yourself essential," said Angela. "My hope and my mother's hope is that we can give back as much as we can to the community and that when this is over, people will keep us in mind and every small business in mind."

---------

Contact Community Journalist Alex Ciccarone
Submit a tip to Alex
Follow Alex on Facebook
Follow @Alexabc7NY on Twitter
Follow @Alexabc7NY on Instagram

url HREF="https://abc7ny.com/coronavirus/" TARGET="" REL=""]

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE

Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the testing centers
Free educational resources for parents and children
How you can help victims of coronavirus
Where is COVID-19 now? and other resources
Coronavirus news and live updates in New York
Coronavirus news and live updates in New Jersey
Coronavirus news and live updates in Connecticut

New York City updates
Long Island updates
How coronavirus is leaving ghost towns in its path
Coronavirus prevention: how clean are your hands?
Social distancing: What is it and how does it stop the spread of coronavirus?
Coronavirus closures and cancelations
Coronavirus tips: What Americans need to know

Related Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus