Project Protect Makes Six Million Masks For Frontline Workers

SANDY, Utah – Val Cutreer is a dedicated volunteer who loves to quilt, and she’s combined two of these passions for “Project Protect,” which is making masks for caregivers on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Cutreer and the other 57,000 volunteers have made over six million masks for frontline workers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was formed by Latter-day Saints Charities, University of Utah Hospitals and Intermountain Healthcare systems.

They helped get large rolls of a medical-grade fabric for masks for healthcare workers.

Cutreer was one of the 25 “porch volunteers” that held supplies on their porch for people to pick up and make masks with, then return once they were done.

For Cutreer, the project has a deep meaning.

“I have a granddaughter that is critically and chronically ill. If something like this happened to her it would probably take her life,” Cutreer said.

She wanted people to think about others, like her granddaughter Halle, who don’t have as strong as immune systems before they deny putting on a mask.

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Coronavirus Resources

• Have you or a family member been affected by coronavirus issues in Utah? KSL TV wants to hear from you. Contact KSL by emailing social@ksl.com.
• What is COVID-19? Here’s What You Need To Know To Stay Healthy
• What We Know And Don’t Know About The Coronavirus
• Four Common Coronavirus Questions Answered
• The latest coronavirus stories from KSL TV can be found at our Staying Safe: Coronavirus section.
• Your Life Your Health: How can parents prepare their home, children against coronavirus?

How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

How To Get Help

If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.