Hundreds of thousands of cloth face masks and surgical gowns for health care workers are being produced by employees of Beehive Clothing’s six facilities around the world to help address local needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We, as a global church, have sought ways to help and reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. One way that we can help is through offering our services from our sewing facilities,” said Peggy Cowherd, managing director of the Church’s Materials Management Department, in a press release.
The facilities are owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The facilities are located in Brazil, Paraguay, Mexico, the Philippines and the U.S. (in Salt Lake City and American Fork, Utah).
Employees shifted their work from producing sacred clothing to sewing medical-grade gowns and cloth face masks after the project received approval from the First Presidency in mid-April.
Medical-grade gowns are being made at the Church’s two U.S. facilities. The masks are being produced at international locations. As of Monday, the Church reports approximately 50,000 gowns have been sewn at the two Utah plants, and about 585,000 masks have been completed at the international plants.
