Most Heroes Wear Masks. This Melrose Mom Makes Them

MELROSE, MA — There are two things Erika Stanton never thought she'd be: A teacher and a mask-maker. She's learning to never say never.

Since the pandemic started, Stanton has made dozens of masks to give out to Melrose residents in need. She was set to sew her 100th Tuesday.

"Whenever I get a free minute I turn on the sewing machine," Stanton said.

Free minutes aren't too easy to find. She, like most parents, has turned into a part-time teacher for her daughter, Emeline, who turned 7 Tuesday.

"She's put a lot of her own stuff on hold," Jon Stanton said of his wife. "Time she would use for herself like yoga or something, between cooking and cleaning and school for our daughter."

Erika Stanton started making masks a few weeks ago with an eye toward helping hospitals. She pivoted as the need moved to people in the community. After a Facebook post on a local community page saying she would make a mask for whoever needed one, she's been swarmed with requests. She gets at least one message every day, she said.

Stanton makes to order — adult size or kid size — using her own fabric or some that people have donated. She gives them out for free.

"I think the whole point of what I was doing was just to help the community," she said. "I saw a need. I had some supplies. I can kind of sew. I just wanted to help."

Stanton, true to hero form, made sure others were recognized.

"I know there's a lot of other people doing this as well, so I just want to acknowledge the work that everyone is doing."